77% of structural fires in Kelantan due to electricity
Its director Farhan Sufyan Borhan said in 2023, 689 structural fire cases were recorded, with 537 traced to electrical causes. The following year, the number rose to 821 cases, with 634 linked to the same source.
'These figures are worrying and we expect a similar trend to continue this year. Most incidents involve electrical appliances or faulty wiring in residential homes, particularly those made of wood,' he told reporters after the department's monthly assembly at the Kelantan JBPM headquarters in Tunjong here today.
Farhan advised the public to routinely maintain their home wiring systems and inspect electrical appliances, especially those in use for over a decade.
In a separate development, he said the department has received four high-capacity water pumps to improve its response to open burning, especially in peatland areas.
The pumps, each capable of delivering 1,000 litres per minute at 10-bar pressure, were received late last year and distributed to the four busiest fire stations: Bachok, Pasir Puteh, Tunjong, and Tanah Merah.
Farhan also reminded the public to keep their surroundings clean, particularly during the Southwest Monsoon season, as venomous animals like snakes and scorpions tend to seek shelter in homes.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
12 hours ago
- The Sun
Water bombing slows 105-hectare bushfire in Mukah
SIBU: Aerial water bombing operations have successfully slowed the spread of a 105-hectare bushfire in Mukah, according to the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM). Mukah Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) chief Nicholas Belulin said the operation was conducted using an Mi-171 helicopter equipped with an underslung water bombing system. 'A total of four water bombings were carried out at 3.30 pm, releasing 6,360 litres of water over the affected area,' he said in a statement. The operation helped reduce the fire's intensity and prevented further spread to nearby areas. However, it was halted after 42 minutes due to technical issues with the aircraft. 'Inspection found that several components need to be replaced, and spare parts will be delivered by the maintenance team via road tonight,' Nicholas explained. The bushfire, first detected on July 24, has been challenging to control due to the vast terrain and limited ground access. Firefighters have been conducting aerial monitoring and creating fire breaks to protect oil palm plantations and settlements. Operations are expected to resume once the helicopter is deemed safe for use. - Bernama
New Straits Times
13 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Expert: Climate change, urban growth driving rising temperatures in Malaysia
KANGAR: Seasonal weather patterns, global climate change, urbanisation, and human activities are among the main contributors to the rising temperatures in Malaysia, says an academician. Associate Professor Dr Norazian Mohamed Noor from the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), said one major factor is the Southwest Monsoon, which occurs from June to September and is characterised by dry weather, low rainfall, and minimal cloud formation. She said that such conditions result in more direct sunlight reaching the Earth's surface with little obstruction, thus significantly increasing daily temperatures. "The lack of consistent rainfall also reduces the natural moisture content in both soil and air, making the environment hotter and drier," she told Utusan Malaysia yesterday. Previously, it was reported that Malaysia's average surface temperature rose by 0.6°C to 1.2°C between 1969 and 2009, and the country is now facing an increasingly unpredictable climate crisis driven by global warming. Projections suggest that if no strong mitigation steps are taken, the rise could reach 1.5°C to 2.0°C by 2050. As of the third week of this month, over 300 cases of heat exhaustion have been reported, particularly among children and the elderly, and the risk of heatstroke is also rising among outdoor workers such as construction labourers, farmers, and military personnel. Norazian said global warming is the primary cause of overall temperature increases worldwide, including in Malaysia, and that the prolonged El Niño phenomenon, ongoing from late 2023 to mid-2025, has had a significant impact on weather patterns. She said it has disrupted tropical rainfall systems, raised sea surface temperatures, and caused prolonged droughts and dry weather conditions. "According to reports from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), 2025 is projected to be among the hottest years ever recorded in modern history. "In addition, forest fires in Sumatra, Indonesia, have contributed to worsening air quality in Malaysia, particularly in Negri Sembilan and the Klang Valley, as thick smoke has been carried by winds, especially in Klang, with the Air Pollution Index (API) reaching between 152 and 157. "The extreme heat in Malaysia and the forest fires in Indonesia are closely linked. The Southwest Monsoon (June–September) brings dry conditions that accelerate the spread of fires in Indonesia, while also enabling smoke to drift over to Peninsular Malaysia. "This worsens an already hot environment, as the smoke traps heat in the atmosphere (heat trapping), further intensifying the perceived temperature and impacting public comfort and health," she added. Norazian also said that rapid urbanisation and city expansion in Malaysia are contributing to rising temperatures, particularly through the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect.
Barnama
2 days ago
- Barnama
JBPM Records 76 Fire Cases In School Areas This Year
MARANG, July 29 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) has recorded 76 cases of fire that occurred in school areas nationwide so far this year. Its director-general, Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad said that 60 per cent of the total cases were identified as being caused by electrical-related factors. "Whether due to wiring, the use of electrical equipment or 'resistance' to the electricity supply, these three elements contributed to approximately 60 per cent of the causes. 'We did not catergorise fire incidents as happening in classrooms, laboratories, stores or others. But we categorised them as the entire school area,' he told reporters after the JBPM's 'National Firefighter Drill 2025' closing ceremony at the parade ground, Fire and Rescue Academy (Eastern Region) in Wakaf Tapai near here today In another development, Nor Hisham said the fire department had begun moving heavy machinery into locations of four current wildfires in Sarawak. He said the entry of the heavy machinery was to enable 'cutting' of the fire line to be carried out to control the rapidly spreading fires. 'Our concern is that if the hot days continue, there will be a descent (of fires) into the peatland areas. So, we have to prepare ourselves to carry out a total flooding,' he said. He said the fire department also received assistance from various parties who were working together to control the fires, such as large companies that have land in the affected areas. A spokesperson for the Sarawak JBPM Operations Centre today announced that wildfires were still reported to be occurring in four locations in the state, involving a total area of more than 88 hectares.
