KUANTAN: The authorities are up to their necks handling peat fires in Pahang during the dry season and the problem is made worse with open burning.

Pahang Department of Environment (DoE) director Rosli Zul said 13 hotspots had been detected earlier this week, mostly centred on peat land in Pekan.

“Of these, there was one incident of fire that did not happen in the forest. Rather, it was at a farming area.

“We are investigating the cause of the fire,” Rosli said.

He said the agencies involved, such as the DoE and the Fire and Rescue Department, would be monitoring high risk areas, especially during the dry season.

“We will be patrolling areas that have the potential risk of a fire breaking out. Besides that, we are also creating awareness through the media and WhatsApp on the consequences of open burning.

“We want to prevent such practices from becoming widespread,” he said, adding that a seminar on the impact of peat fires was also held last week.

Rosli said a total of 105 hotspots had been identified in Pekan, Kuantan and Rompin until July this year.

He said of this number, 67 were peat fires that needed to be tackled according to standard operating procedure.

“We are taking measures such as monitoring through lookout towers in Penor and preparing infrastructure like water catchment ponds to keep the peat land moist.

“In the event a fire breaks out, we have also made sure to have ample water supply in the area so it can be put out quickly,” Rosli said.

Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2018/08/18/a-burning-problem-in-pahang/#EgQOukKbrpyJVqGO.99