Kota Kinabalu: The Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) has put out 77.5 per cent of the fire engulfing the Kayu Madang landfill site here over the past four days.
Its operations commander Ordine Gilu said to streamline the operation to extinguish the fire, the department divided it into four sector areas.
He said that sector C had been fully extinguished, while Sector D was at 90 per cent, Sector A at 80 per cent, and Sector B at only 40 per cent.
“The fire affecting the area designated for used tire disposal covers an area of 45,700 square metres.
“On the fourth day operation Wednesday, firefighters used Fix Monitor Fire Fighting equipment and High Performance Pump Module machinery, drew water from open sources and utilised 14 barrels of fire extinguishing foam,” he said when contacted by reporters Thursday.
Ordine said 41 officers and members of JBPM, led by the Tuaran fire and rescue station, were tirelessly working to extinguish the fire, with assistance from other stations including Kota Kinabalu, Lintas, Penampang, and the Sabah JBPM headquarters.
Meanwhile, residents, including parents and students, voiced concerns over the deteriorating air quality caused by the landfill blaze.
They said it is having a noticeable impact on their health.
The fire at the landfill has led to hazardous smoke, described as black and smelling like burnt rubber.
Despite students wearing masks, complaints of sore throats and other health issues are on the rise.
Several schools and educational institutions including Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Pekan Telipok, SK Lapasan, Sekolah Mengengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Pekan Telipok, Sekolah Menengah (SM) St Peter and the Kota Kinabalu Polytechnic located within a three to five kilometre radius from the landfill are facing the brunt of the situation.
Siti Rusnah Rahman, a housewife from Kg Lapasan, is concerned about her son’s school, SK Lapasan. “I am now worried about letting the children go to school if the condition does not improve,” she said.
Some families are considering temporary relocation. Soldier Adam Hakimi Romme planned to take his family to Kundasang, where the air is cleaner.
He urged the Department of Education to monitor the situation and take necessary actions for the safety of the children.
Lionel Edry Linus, a Form 4 student at SM St Peter, said all outdoor activities have been suspended at his school.
Ami Syuhada Imran of Kota Kinabalu Polytechnic highlighted the challenges faced by students with health conditions like asthma.
To counter this, lecturers have started conducting online classes, reminiscent of during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mayor Datuk Seri Dr Sabin Samitah said the fire started on Sunday likely due to a nearby forest fire.
He said safety measures were in place to reduce the smoke and douse the flames.
