Peat Fires Still Raging, says Sumatra Official
11/1/97
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Headline: Peat Fires Still Raging, says Sumatra Official
Source: The Star
Date: 11/1/97
Author: Zailani Ahmad
Copyright 1997: Star Publications. All rights reserved
MALACCA: About 24 forest fires and incidents of open
burning have been detected daily in Sumatra since the
withdrawal of 1,078 Malaysian firemen from six provinces
there on Oct 17.
Sumatra Environment Department chief Mohammad Helmy said
the department had detected 295 hot spots between Oct 18
and 29, with the majority being in South Sumatra
province and Jambi.
"Surface and peat fires are still raging in both areas,"
he told The Star in a telephone interview from Pekan
Baru in Sumatra yesterday.
Mohammad said since Oct 18, the department has spotted
207 hot spots in South Sumatra, 54 in Jambi, 10 in
Bengkulu, 15 in Lampung, five in West Sumatra and four
in Riau.
Mohammad said since the Malaysian firemen were pulled
out, firefighting operations had been conducted by the
Dinas Kehutanan (Forestry Department) with the
co-operation of local authorities, villagers and
plantation workers.
"To prevent the fire from spreading, we deployed
firefighting groups to these hot spots," he said.
Mohammad said the team also used several firefighting
techniques taught by the Malaysian firemen.
"Due to the seriousness of the forest fires in South
Sumatra, we have urged the Malaysian Government to send
their firemen again," he said, adding that the
department was also waiting for help from Japan and
Australia which had promised to send their teams soon.
Mohammad expressed his unhappiness at the attitude of
local people such as farmers, plantation owners and
concession holders, who disregarded laws on open burning
and slash and burn activities.
"While we are working hard to put out fires, they still
continue to burn forests and conduct slash and burn
activities," he said.