Firefighters and Volunteers Battle Peat Fire in Kuala Baram, Miri

Firefighters and volunteers have been working to extinguish a peat fire in Kuala Baram, Miri since Saturday. The Miri disaster management committee has requested the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) to conduct “water bombing” to help put out the fire. Committee chairman Jamalie Busri stated that the fire is spreading quickly and is difficult to contain, especially in areas that are hard to reach on foot or with fire engines.

The smoke and haze from the fire have affected hundreds of residents in Kuala Baram, Senadin, Tudan, and Permyjaya. The air pollutant index (API) in the area was recorded at an unhealthy level of 123 at 10am, with Miri’s API reading at 74 (moderate). By 1pm, the API reading at the Miri industrial training institute had increased to 97. The deteriorating air quality has resulted in a thick haze and strong odor in the region.

Efforts to combat the peat fire in Kuala Baram have been challenging due to the fire spreading quickly and the difficulty in reaching some affected areas. The Miri disaster management committee has called on the MMEA to assist with water bombing using their Bombardier aircraft. The air quality in Miri has been steadily declining since Saturday, with residents experiencing the effects of the smoke and haze.

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