Anglers may have caused fire
Anglers may have caused fire
2August 2005
publishedby www.nst.com.my
CYBERJAYA — Anglers may have started the fire at an abandoned four-hectare oil palm plantation that vastly reduced air quality in Kuala Lumpur and surrounding areas.
Although the blaze has been put out, smoke from burning peat soil will continue to be a problem for at least two days.
Cyberjaya Fire and Rescue department operation officer Shuib Sulaiman expected the smouldering peat to stop burning by Thursday.
Shuib said the anglers may have started a small fire to keep mosquitoes away, but left without extinguishing it.
“Their negligence may have caused the fire at the plantation,” he said.
Firemen had to pump water from a stream as fire engines could not be driven into the plantation, about 2km from the Multimedia University.
Meanwhile, most of Seremban town was engulfed in a thick blanket of smoke. Visibility on the ground was down to 500 metres.
The smoke made its appearance at noon. Negri Sembilan Department of Environment director Rahani Hussin said the department had received a report of fire in Kuala Pilah yesterday.
“Areas affected by the smoke include Seremban, Mantin, Nilai, Kajang, Bangi and Semenyih,” she said.
