THE Terengganu Fire and Rescue Department has extinguished the blaze on 297ha of peatland in Lembah Bidong, Setiu.

“There are still patches of fire on the remaining 7ha. Firefighters are focusing their efforts on putting out the flames completely,” operations division assistant director Mohd Salahuddin Isa told Bernama at the scene today.

“There is a risk of the blaze recurring… the fire on the surface of the peatland may be put out, but there could still be smouldering below the surface.”

He said the hot weather and constantly changing wind directions made it difficult for firemen to keep the flames from spreading.

Fire personnel also found it hard to work on the uneven ground, with some equipment, such as portable pumps, weighing up to 120kg, he said.

On the fire in Kg Anak Ikan Dalam, Besut, involving 20ha, Salahuddin said firefighters have extinguished 14ha of the blaze. – Bernama, March 23, 2019.