THE Johor Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) has been fighting a forest fire for the past three days in the 8ha bush area on Jalan Sebana Cove towards Punggai in Kota Tinggi. 

Sebana Cove Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) Operations Commander Mohd Khairul Sufian Dahari said the blaze started at 2.57pm on Sunday, and work to douse the fire involved 15 members including those from BBP Punggai and BBP Kota Tinggi. 

“So far, we have put out 50% of the fire,” he said in a statement today, adding that the firefighting operation was still underway. 

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has also flown out its Bombardier CL-415 type amphibious aircraft to assist in the operation today. 

Johor MMEA director First Admiral Nurul Hizam Zakaria, in a separate statement, said assistance has also been provided by the Fire Department Drone Unit, which conducted aerial monitoring for three days at the location and found that the fire was spreading. 

“After receiving a request for assistance from the Kota Tinggi district office, the aircraft was deployed to carry out waterbombing to extinguish the fire,” he said. 

Nurul Hizam added that operations would resume tomorrow. – Bernama, October 17, 2023.