An ongoing peat fire at Kampung Cenderawasih has affected 16.2 hectares of pineapple farms, incurring losses exceeding $32,000. The blaze, fueled by strong winds, has challenged 30 firefighters over the past week.
Local grower Musa Mohamed reported, "So far, about 0.61ha of my farm has been destroyed, resulting in losses of about $4,000." His farm has been operational for five years, and this marks the second occurrence of such a fire.
Mohd Anas Razali, another farmer, mentioned that 2,000 pineapple plants were lost, estimating damages at $2,800. He expressed concerns about the hot spell and strong winds hindering firefighting efforts, resulting in no harvest this season.
Abdul Halim Abdul Latif, the agriculture bureau chief of the Kampung Cenderawasih Village Development and Security Committee, stated that two excavators were employed to dig trenches to contain the fire's spread.
Firefighters are also addressing a peat fire in the nearby Palma Valley, which has affected 94 hectares of land.
Source: New Straits Times