A plantation fire in Simpang Renggam has burned nine hectares of crops, with strong winds hampering efforts to protect a nearby residential area.
KLUANG: A plantation fire has engulfed four hectares of oil palm and five hectares of pineapple crops at Peninsular Plantation Sdn Bhd in Simpang Renggam.
The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) received the emergency call on Friday evening and deployed a drone unit for monitoring.
Initial firefighting efforts began on Saturday, involving six firefighters from the Renggam station.
The operation continued with help from 11 volunteer fire brigade members and 20 plantation workers.
Firefighters used direct water spraying from open sources and dug trenches to contain the blaze.
Johor JBPM Zone 3 chief Siti Hajar Sanusi said efforts depend on weather conditions.
“If rain occurs, the fire is expected to be extinguished in one to two days,” she told reporters.
Strong winds have hampered operations, causing embers to spread despite 25% of the area being contained.
Small drains at the oil palm plantation are being used as water sources.
At the pineapple plantation, firefighting relies on water tankers from volunteers and plantation management.
“The fire has been brought under control, but we remain concerned,” Siti Hajar said.
She noted the pineapple plantation is located about one kilometre from a residential area.