LAWAS — Scorching afternoons are nothing new in Lawas, but yesterday’s rising heat turned dangerous when a bush fire flared up on the dry scrubland behind Kampung Banting. Flames raced through roughly 1.2 hectares, threatening nearby homes and choking the evening air with smoke.
The alarm sounded at 3.18 pm, and veteran officer Clarence D. Primus Tiandun immediately dispatched three engines from the Lawas Fire and Rescue Station (BBP). Local residents, who still remember last year’s helicopter‑assisted blaze in the same area, watched anxiously as crews rolled in.
Seasoned firefighters relied on a tried‑and‑true method: build a fire barrier. Stretching a 60‑metre hose line across the driest flank, crews laid down a soaking curtain of water, denying the flames fresh fuel. Hour after hour, they shuffled the barrier forward, beating back hot spots that reignited in the stiff breeze.
By 6.30 pm, the perimeter held. Ten minutes later, Clarence’s team declared the fire out. The rapid containment spared Kampung Banting from a repeat of last year’s crisis—proof that experience, discipline and solid groundwork still win the day.
Clarence did not mince words afterwards. “Stop open burning,” he said. “The ground is crisp, the air is dry, and one careless match can put an entire village at risk.”
His station has filed a report with the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) Limbang. Officers will increase patrols and have authority to issue stiff penalties to anyone clearing land with fire. The reminder is blunt, but necessary: traditional land‑clearing should evolve, not endanger neighbours.
Long‑time villagers respect the land—they rely on it for gardens and smallholdings. Yet the climate is shifting, and the old rhythm of burning before planting is growing hazardous. Firefighters urge residents to adopt safer clearing methods, such as mechanical brush cutting, and to call 999 at the first whiff of smoke.
Yesterday’s swift victory is a testament to Lawas’ preparedness and communal spirit. Still, prevention beats heroics. With vigilant eyes, mindful practices and a nod to both heritage and progress, Kampung Banting can keep its fields fertile without feeding the flames.
