Bagan serai: A fire which destroyed 23.47 hectares (58 acres) of bushes in Kg Tersusun Tebuk Panchor, Gunung Semanggol, Bagan Serai has been successfully brought under control by fire brigades after entering its second day today.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Perak Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Operations Division assistant director Sabarodzi Nor Ahmad stated that as of this evening, 22.66 hectares (56 acres) of the forest fire had been completely extinguished, though about 0.8 hectares (2 acres) were still burning.

Fighting was carried out on the ground using mechanical pumps and transport pumps with a 1,000-foot hose, sourcing water from a nearby fire hydrant. The affected area was divided into four sectors, with personnel distributed six to seven people per sector for efficient management.

The firefighting operation was bolstered by the Air Unit, which utilized an AW 139 aircraft to conduct 20 water bombings. One of the significant challenges faced during the operation was extinguishing areas with high-voltage electrical lines, necessitating greater caution. Additionally, the shallow water intake area for water bombing led to mud entering the water bucket, complicating the efforts.

Sabarodzi noted that the firefighting was halted at 7 pm and will continue tomorrow with additional personnel and logistics to ensure that the remaining embers are completely extinguished. The ground attack methods by firemen and the water bombing strategy will be employed to achieve this goal.

The fire, which began at 3 pm yesterday, is believed to have been caused by prolonged hot weather. The last recorded fire in the area occurred in 2023.