KELANTAN’s Fire and Rescue Department will work around the clock to stamp out a smouldering landfill in Beris Lalang, Bachok, to improve air quality that has been worsening due to the week-long fire. 

Its director Zainal Madasin said the landfill, which caught fire April 25, apparently caused by the hot weather, has been divided into two sectors to complete the extinguishing process.

“Extinguishing works are actively being carried out because this 4.04ha landfill fire can cause greater air pollution if not put out immediately.

“With the 50 workers on duty 24 hours a day, we will channel more water to flow in from the nearby catchment pond to the bottom of the garbage heap to soak the entire area,” he told a press conference in Bachok today.

Zainal said the extinguishing process is taking a while due to distant and limited water sources, as well as being surrounded by areas of easily flammable peat.

He said firefighters have identified a source of water from a catchment pond about 300m from the fire, but are unsure if supply is sufficient to extinguish the blaze.

“In this hot weather, many open water sources in nearby areas have been drying up,” he said.

He said if extinguishing efforts are unsuccessful, the department may seek help from other states and agencies. 

Zainal advised the public not to carry out open burning to avoid igniting another fire.

As of April, 575 cases of open fires have been recorded in peat land, estates, bush, lalang (undergrowth) and garbage disposal sites. – Bernama, May 3, 2023.