PETALING JAYA, Feb 19 — The Fire and Rescue Department have recorded a total of 5,485 cases of bush fires and open burning since early this month.
Yesterday alone, the department received 342 reports of fire nationwide.
The current hot spell has been one of the main contributors to the increase of fire cases in the country.
Perak, Selangor and Kedah top the chart with 70, 66 and 63 reports lodged yesterday alone. The department updates its data after every 24 hours.
With an average of 300 cases reported daily, the department's director, Datuk Wan Mohd Nor Ibrahim, said the matter could turn critical if it does not rain soon.
“We are now at a precautionary stage but if the heat continues for another week, without periodical rain, we would be in a critical stage,” he said.
“It would be a situation where even a small spark could create a huge fire.”
He said although the department has identified several hot spots, especially in Johor, Selangor, Pahang and Terengganu, they are not neglecting other areas and have ensured all fire departments are prepared to tackle the situation.
“Our records show Selangor, Johor and Perak have been consistently recording high number of cases daily since Feb 1. We are increasing our efforts to ensure fires in these areas are attended to swiftly and efficiently,” said Wan Mohd.
