BY James Kon

A forest fire near Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) on the second day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri at noon is believed to have reached 90 hectares of government land.

The firefighters faced fires burning in several patches of the forest at a distance of three kilometres into the forest, accessible only through RPN Kampong Rimba.

They utilised the snap tank, using tree branches as beaters and eight water hoses from fire engines, a nearby fire hydrant and an open water source.

As of Wednesday, 80 per cent of the fire was extinguished with help from the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF) by water-bombing the area using their S70i Blackhawk helicopter.

According to the Fire and Rescue Department (FRD), no fatalities were reported while the cause of the fire is being investigated.

The FRD said 21 firefighters with four fire engines from Rimba Fire Station and Lambak Kanan Fire Station as well as the Women’s Operation Unit responded to the forest fire led by Acting Commanding Officer of Operation ‘C’ Branch Acting SSFR Haji Mustapa bin Haji Mohamad.

Station Commander of Rimba Fire Station Acting ASFR Haji Mohammad Nor bin Haji Ahad also joined in the operation.

The public is urged to avoid open burning, especially during the dry weather condition and reminded to ensure their homes adhere to the fire safety distance of at least 50 metres from trees or forests.

The FRD also advised the public to help extinguish incidents of small bush fire without endangering themselves and to call 995 during an emergency.

- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin