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RECENT bush and forest fires reported across Malaysia are likely caused by human activity, as current weather conditions are not hot or dry enough to trigger spontaneous combustion, said Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Director-General Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad.
“Spontaneous ignition is unlikely under present weather conditions. So, the most probable cause is human activity, although we have not conducted specific forensic investigations,” he told Bernama on Sunday.
One of the latest incidents occurred on Friday in Bukit Kajang Prima, Selangor, where about 1.2 hectares of forest were ablaze. Twenty-two firefighters and four engines were deployed to contain the fire.
A similar fire was reported earlier near Bukit Jalil, prompting swift action from the fire department to prevent the blaze from spreading to nearby areas.
From 1 January to 19 July, the department has recorded 7,223 fire incidents nationwide involving open areas, including bush, forest, farmland and rubbish fires.
Of these, bush or grassland fires accounted for the largest share with 4,733 cases, followed by rubbish fires (1,662), forest fires (537), and farmland fires (291).
Selangor reported the highest number of incidents with 1,364 cases, followed by Perak (938), Johor (831), Kedah (662), Kuala Lumpur (113), and Labuan (44). Putrajaya recorded the lowest number, with only eight cases.
Meanwhile, parts of Selangor and Negeri Sembilan, including Johan Setia and Nilai, recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings on Sunday. The poor air quality is believed to be partly due to transboundary haze from forest fires in Indonesia.
Nor Hisham urged the public to refrain from open burning and to report early signs of fire to prevent escalation. - July 20, 2025
