SELANGOR will seek the help of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA)’s Bombardier CL-415 aircraft to carry out water bombing to expedite firefighting work at Compartment 21 of the Kuala Langat Selatan Forest Reserve.

State Environment, Green Technology, Science, Technology and Innovation and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Hee Loy Sian said due to the hot, dry and windy weather, the fire that started on Friday – purportedly by illegal farmers – is spreading to more than 80ha.

“There is no access and water source at the burning forest area. However, we have placed two bulldozers to pave the way for the Fire and Rescue Department and related agencies to enter the area.

“The state government has also activated a tube well about 1.5km from the affected area for use in firefighting,” he told reporters after checking on the situation. Also present was Selangor Fire and Rescue Department director Norazam Khamis.

Hee said without water bombing, firefighting work may take three to four weeks to complete compared to about 10 days with the help of the agency involved.

He hoped that the operation could be carried out as early as tomorrow morning to prevent the flames from spreading into a wider area.

Currently, some 100 personnel from the Selangor Fire and Rescue Department, Kuala Langat Municipal Council, Selangor Forestry Department and Selangor Disaster Management Unit are stationed in the forest to fight the fire. – Bernama, April 20, 2020.