
Weather conditions help reduce open burning cases in Kelantan
KOTA BARU: The Kelantan Fire and Rescue Department expects the number of open burning-related calls to drop by more than 50 per cent this year compared with last year.
Its director, Farhan Sufyan Borhan, said the department received 1,897 such calls in 2024.
"In the first four months of this year, we have received a total of 189 calls.
"This year, we expect fewer cases of open burning due to weather conditions. Although the weather is hot, rainfall has been fairly consistent and not prolonged.
"Therefore, we believe the situation is less concerning, based on the significant decrease in the number of calls received so far," he said.
He was speaking to reporters after attending the Kelantan Immigration Department's Hari Raya open house today. Also present was state Immigration director, Mohamed Yusoff Khan Mohd Hassan.
Farhan added that last year, nearly 60 per cent of the calls involved rubbish fires.
"This year, however, the trend has shifted to grass fires.
"We have identified land-clearing activities as one of the contributing factors to this increase," he said.
Citing 2021 statistics, he said there were 44 open burning hotspots recorded across the state, with the highest numbers reported in Bachok, Pasir Mas, Tanah Merah, and Pasir Puteh.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Sun
26-05-2025
- The Sun
77% of structural fires in Kelantan due to electricity
KOTA BHARU: Electrical faults were the cause of 77 per cent of structural fires reported in Kelantan for two years in a row since 2023, according to the state Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM). Its director Farhan Sufyan Borhan said in 2023, 689 structural fire cases were recorded, with 537 traced to electrical causes. The following year, the number rose to 821 cases, with 634 linked to the same source. 'These figures are worrying and we expect a similar trend to continue this year. Most incidents involve electrical appliances or faulty wiring in residential homes, particularly those made of wood,' he told reporters after the department's monthly assembly at the Kelantan JBPM headquarters in Tunjong here today. Farhan advised the public to routinely maintain their home wiring systems and inspect electrical appliances, especially those in use for over a decade. In a separate development, he said the department has received four high-capacity water pumps to improve its response to open burning, especially in peatland areas. The pumps, each capable of delivering 1,000 litres per minute at 10-bar pressure, were received late last year and distributed to the four busiest fire stations: Bachok, Pasir Puteh, Tunjong, and Tanah Merah. Farhan also reminded the public to keep their surroundings clean, particularly during the Southwest Monsoon season, as venomous animals like snakes and scorpions tend to seek shelter in homes.


New Straits Times
24-04-2025
- New Straits Times
Weather conditions help reduce open burning cases in Kelantan
KOTA BARU: The Kelantan Fire and Rescue Department expects the number of open burning-related calls to drop by more than 50 per cent this year compared with last year. Its director, Farhan Sufyan Borhan, said the department received 1,897 such calls in 2024. "In the first four months of this year, we have received a total of 189 calls. "This year, we expect fewer cases of open burning due to weather conditions. Although the weather is hot, rainfall has been fairly consistent and not prolonged. "Therefore, we believe the situation is less concerning, based on the significant decrease in the number of calls received so far," he said. He was speaking to reporters after attending the Kelantan Immigration Department's Hari Raya open house today. Also present was state Immigration director, Mohamed Yusoff Khan Mohd Hassan. Farhan added that last year, nearly 60 per cent of the calls involved rubbish fires. "This year, however, the trend has shifted to grass fires. "We have identified land-clearing activities as one of the contributing factors to this increase," he said. Citing 2021 statistics, he said there were 44 open burning hotspots recorded across the state, with the highest numbers reported in Bachok, Pasir Mas, Tanah Merah, and Pasir Puteh.

The Star
21-04-2025
- The Star
Floods cause nearly RM1bil losses in 2024, Kelantan worst hit
KOTA BARU: The floods that inundated Malaysia in 2024 caused RM933.4mil in losses, says Fire and Rescue Department director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad. Citing data released by the Statistics Department, he said that Kelantan took the brunt of the losses at RM139mil in terms of residential property damage, including RM46.2mil in Pasir Mas, RM31.7mil in Tumpat and RM19.2mil in Kota Baru - the three most affected districts in the state. "These major losses highlight the importance of effective disaster management strategies and mitigation efforts at the state level. "This data must be thoroughly analysed by the Kelantan Fire and Rescue Department to enable more effective planning, including manpower deployment, asset readiness, and suitable emergency response plans," he said at a Kelantan Fire and Rescue service award ceremony here on Monday (April 21). He also said that the department had heightened its readiness throughout the country following a shift in weather patterns expected to bring heavy, localised rain in the afternoons that increased the risk of flash floods. Also, all fire stations and personnel across the country have been instructed to remain on standby following flash flood incidents last week in six districts, including areas in Selangor, Johor, and Sabah, Nor Hisham said. "We have issued early warnings to all firefighting teams on the ground to be better prepared, especially in high-risk areas. "Flash floods tend to have a greater impact compared to monsoon floods because they happen suddenly and leave little time for residents to prepare," he noted. - Bernama