Prime Farmland Ablaze In Brunei As Bushfire Cuts Visibility
By Saiful Rizal & Hj Minor Absah

Bandar Seri Begawan - In one of the biggest bushfire incidents this year, about 36 acres of agricultural land were razed yesterday at Kg Junjungan, Mukim Lumapas, not far from the Tasamul Shell filling station.

According to the Fire Services Department, the cause of the fire could be due to open burning of dry grass at the agricultural land that spread to nearby bushes. He also didn't discount the fact that it could have started on its own due to the prevailing dry weather.

And despite fervent pleas from relevant authorities to the public not to conduct open burning, a number still seem to turn a deaf ear to the calls.

In yesterday's blaze Hj Buntan bin Hj Kalong from the Sungai Kebun Fire Station led five firefighters who rushed to the scene at 1.05pm to control it from spreading.

Firemen from the Berakas Fire Station, who Deputy Officer Awg Hj Bagol bin Hj Yahya, headed came to the aid of the five firemen from Sungai Kebun.

Also present at the scene was the Chief of Mukim of Lumapas fire station, Awg Hj Bakar bin Mansor.

The firefighters' efforts were focused on preventing the fire from spreading to two houses. They hosed down both the houses as a precaution. The houses occupied by a family with children were fortunate that the wind blew the thick smoke away from their houses or else the children would have suffered from breathing difficulties, Awg Hj Buntan said.

The dry weather conditions coupled with strong wind precipitated the situation.

The smoke from the bushfires blanketed the area reducing the visibility to just a few metres.

On Tuesday, roads leading to Lumut Highway in Kuala Belait oil district were closed because of a bushfire near Lumut and Anduki.

The Meteorological Section of the Civil Aviation Department said current dry conditions will prevail until March. (Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin)

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