MUKAH, 11 May – A major fire that had been raging through the Pelita Sago Sebakong rumbia plantation since last Friday has finally been brought under full control, thanks to heavy rain in the area this morning.
The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Operations Centre (PGO) confirmed that the blaze, which affected parts of the 50-hectare plantation, was successfully extinguished after persistent firefighting efforts and natural weather assistance.
According to a PGO spokesperson, four firefighters from the Mukah Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) were dispatched on the third day of operations. Upon reaching the site, the team found that the fire was already under control and had not crossed to the other side of the main road.
“This was due to a large ditch that acted as a natural firebreak and a shift in wind direction to the north, which slowed the fire’s spread and reduced available fuel sources,” the spokesperson said.
To control the flames, firefighters used a 200-foot long water line connected to a floating pump that drew water from a nearby ditch. Their task was made easier by the morning downpour, which soaked the plantation and helped smother remaining hotspots.
By 10.50 am, the operations commander declared the fire fully extinguished. The firefighting mission officially ended soon after, and the plantation is now considered safe.
Earlier reports stated that 12 hectares of the plantation were scorched during the fire’s peak. Strong winds over the past few days had made earlier firefighting efforts more challenging, allowing the fire to continue spreading throughout the evening.
This incident highlights the vulnerability of peat and rumbia-based farms during the dry season and the importance of weather shifts in supporting firefighting operations.
