A firefighting helicopter is deployed to control blazes at Punggai-Sebana Cove and near Pengerang PPR, with significant progress reported on containing the spread.
KOTA TINGGI: The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) has deployed an MI-17 helicopter for water bombing operations to control fires at two locations here.
The aerial unit will first target a blaze near the Pengerang People’s Housing Project (PPR) before moving to Jalan Bypass Punggai-Sebana Cove.
Ground operations using direct attack and total flooding methods with water tankers are continuing in section G of the Punggai-Sebana Cove fire.
Excavators are also creating fire breaks in the area, with water being sourced from a Yayasan Perladangan Johor pond to boost control efforts.
As of 9 am, 90% or 135 hectares of the 150-hectare area at Punggai-Sebana Cove had been successfully extinguished.
For the fire near PPR Pengerang, 55% or 5.5 hectares of the 10-hectare affected area have been put out in sections E, F, and C.
However, strong winds caused the fire to spread back to section C, prompting the helicopter to also conduct water bombing in sections E and G.
Excavators will continue creating fire breaks in sections F and G to extinguish the remaining 4.5 hectares at the PPR site.
The fire at Jalan Bypass Punggai-Sebana Cove began on March 21, while the blaze near Pengerang PPR started on March 24.