
Fire and Rescue Dept conducting 24-hour monitoring at Kuantan landfill fire site
Gebeng Fire and Rescue Station chief Zahidah Ali said her team successfully brought the blaze, which covered an area of nearly one hectare, under control by 5.30pm on Monday (July 21).
She said further monitoring would be conducted by 40 officers who have been assigned two-shift duties at the site, as the area was located between five and eight metres from high-risk locations such as gas pipelines, electrical substations, and underground fibre optic cables.
"When we started operations, we continued to create firebreaks, and the risk of the fire spreading to the relevant areas was low. Additionally, stakeholders also took joint action to carry out monitoring work to prevent the fire from spreading," she said when met by reporters on Tuesday (July 22).
She said that among the challenges in the operation was the hot weather. A Bernama survey found that thick smoke also enveloped the area and disrupted visibility for road users in the area.
Zahidah said that the cause of the incident was still under investigation. However, the possibility that it was caused by the weather has not been ruled out.
On Monday, the Environment Department announced that the fire caused unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings in Balok Baru, Kuantan, and Kemaman, Terengganu.
Balok Baru continued to record an unhealthy API reading of 139 at 8am on Tuesday. This decreased to a moderate reading of 96 as of 3pm. – Bernama
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Sun
9 hours ago
- The Sun
Selangor forest fire under control, peatland monitoring continues
SHAH ALAM: The forest fires affecting several areas in Selangor have been successfully contained, according to Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari. However, authorities remain vigilant in monitoring peatland zones due to their heightened fire risk and prolonged extinguishing challenges. 'There were three fire incidents, namely in Kuala Kubu Bharu, Kajang and Seri Gombak. But Alhamdulillah they were brought under control immediately,' said Amirudin. He added that ongoing surveillance in Kuala Kubu Bharu aims to prevent reignition, with particular concern for peatland fires, which require extensive operations to manage. Speaking after launching the third Selangor Children's Book Festival at the PKNS Complex, Amirudin noted that the state government, through Public Health and Environment Exco Jamaliah Jamaluddin and the State Disaster Management Unit, is conducting daily haze monitoring. Increased patrols in high-risk zones aim to prevent recurring fires. On the book festival, Amirudin highlighted its role in supporting the local publishing industry, particularly for children's literature. Over 160 stalls and an estimated 80,000 visitors are expected at the four-day event, showcasing works from publishers and child-focused organisations. - Bernama


The Star
9 hours ago
- The Star
MetMalaysia issues level one hot weather alert for Sabah, Sarawak areas
KUALA LUMPUR: Eight areas, four each in Sabah and Sarawak, have recorded level one (alert) hot weather conditions as of 4pm on Friday (July 25). The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia), in a Facebook update on the hot weather status, said that the four areas in Sabah were Kota Marudu, Beluran, Telupid and Sandakan. Meanwhile, the four areas in Sarawak were Sibu, Marudi, Telang Usan and Limbang. According to MetMalaysia, the level one heatwave alert is issued when the daily maximum temperature in an area reaches between 35 and 37 degrees Celsius for at least three consecutive days. For the latest updates on daily hot weather status, the public may visit MetMalaysia's website at - Bernama


Borneo Post
9 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Hot weather alert in parts of Sabah
KUALA LUMPUR (July 25): Eight areas, comprising four each in Sabah and Sarawak, recorded level one (alert) hot weather conditions as of 4 pm on Friday. The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia), in a Facebook update on the hot weather status, said that the four areas in Sabah were Kota Marudu, Beluran, Telupid and Sandakan. Meanwhile, the four areas in Sarawak were Sibu, Marudi, Telang Usan and Limbang. According to MetMalaysia, the level one heatwave alert is issued when the daily maximum temperature in an area reaches between 35 and 37 degrees Celsius for at least three consecutive days. For the latest updates on daily hot weather status, the public may visit MetMalaysia's website at – Bernama