KOTA KINABALU: In light of the dry spell that the state is facing, members of the public are advised by the Fire and Rescue Services Department to avoid any open burning, be it for land clearing or disposing of wastes.
“Open burning is already an offence under environmental law and it needs to be avoided, especially now that the weather is so dry and humid,” Sabah Fire and Rescue Services Department director Nordin Pauzi told The Borneo Post yesterday.
Open burning, he added, especially when done at areas near peat soil, could cause danger as fires spread through such soil was harder to extinguish and would result in haze due to the suspended particles carried by burnt dry peat soil into the air.
“This is what’s happening in the peninsula; many open burning cases involving areas close to peat soil grounds, causing most areas in the peninsula to be shrouded in haze,” he said.
Nordin however assured that the bushfire breakout in Sabah is under control compared to the peninsula.
He disclosed that the department had been receiving daily reports on bushfire breakout since February 21.
The highest number of cases reported in a day was 15, which was on March 3 (Monday).
“The bushfire breakout reports that we receive indicate that the drought season had started and the weather is extremely humid and dry. We hope everyone would heed our advice to avoid open burning,” he said.