Simpang renggam: As a peatland fire swept across a Simpang Renggam plantation, two women stood resolute, battling the flames and lending their strength and courage to the firefighting effort.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, one participated in the frontline efforts at the pineapple and oil palm plantation, while the other oversaw the operation, planning strategies to contain and extinguish the fire that had spread over more than nine hectares.

Johor Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Zone 3 head Siti Hajar Sanusi stated that since taking charge of the zone in 2023, this had been the largest peatland fire operation she had conducted. She began her career in 2012 as the head of the Fire Investigation Branch in Zone 1, taking on responsibilities as an operation leader, including determining firefighting methods and tackling operational challenges, such as sourcing adequate water.

Siti Hajar emphasized the responsibility of leadership, stating, "People may think being a leader is easy, but to me, it is a huge responsibility that must be shouldered diligently." She explained that fighting peatland fires is particularly demanding due to the possibility of embers flaring up repeatedly, unlike other types of fires that usually go out entirely.

She highlighted the additional challenges posed by the hot and dry weather, strong winds, dust, and smoke, which necessitated careful monitoring to ensure no embers remained. Reflecting on her career, Siti Hajar admitted that firefighting was not her first career choice, as she aspired to be a teacher. However, after several attempts, she accepted the role of a firefighter upon passing the physical test on her first application.

Meanwhile, Nur Fitrah Syuhada Asmayor, 23, who joined the department in November 2024, described the unique challenges of extinguishing peatland fires, which require prolonged stays at each location to ensure complete extinguishment before moving forward. This was her first experience in peatland fire operations, having previously worked on smaller-scale fires.

Nur Fitrah, the youngest of five siblings, noted that extinguishing peatland fires involves work over several days and extensive hours spent on the embers. The Kluang native expressed the demanding nature of the task, which required a significant commitment to ensure the fire was fully contained.