TABAROK – Firefighters responded to a bush fire covering approximately four acres in Tabarok, Sri Aman, on 8 August 2026.
The incident was reported at 7.50 pm, with the Sri Aman Fire and Rescue Station receiving information about the fire and deploying personnel to the location.
The responding team travelled approximately 17 kilometres to reach the incident site. The operation was led by PBK I (TBK I) Noor Faqriqmal, who served as the chief and commander of operations.
Senior officers present at the scene included PPgB 21708 Shaibullah bin Sabeli, the Zone Operations Officer, and PBK I (TBK I) 10727 Freddy.
Three vehicles were deployed for the operation. These comprised a Scania fire and rescue vehicle, an Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) vehicle and a Toyota Hilux.
The firefighting team consisted of personnel assigned to the respective vehicles, while the operation also received assistance from the Jabatan Bekalan Air Luar Bandar (JBALB). JBALB contributed two personnel and one water tanker to support the firefighting efforts.
Upon arriving at the scene, firefighters assessed the situation and confirmed that the incident involved a bush fire affecting an estimated four-acre area.
Firefighters equipped themselves with full personal protective equipment before beginning their efforts to contain the blaze.
A 300-foot hose line was deployed as part of the firefighting operation. A divider branch and two nozzles connected to 200 feet of hose were also used. Water supply, however, presented a significant challenge during the operation.
There was no fire hydrant or suitable open water source available at the location, leaving firefighters dependent on water transported by the firefighting vehicles and the JBALB tanker.
The available water supply required the fire engine and JBALB tanker to travel approximately six kilometres to obtain additional water from a fire hydrant.
The distance between the incident site and the available water source affected the firefighting operation, as vehicles had to travel back and forth to replenish their water supplies.
Firefighters continued their efforts while dealing with the difficult conditions at the scene. Another challenge was the dark weather conditions, which affected visibility during the evening operation.
Following an assessment of the situation and discussions between the relevant zone officials, the operation was scheduled to continue the following day.
The decision was made after considering the circumstances at the scene and the resources available for the firefighting operation.
Firefighters completed the activities possible at the time and carried out checks to ensure there was no immediate danger before leaving the location. The team subsequently returned to the Sri Aman Fire and Rescue Station.
The incident highlights the challenges faced by emergency personnel when responding to vegetation fires in areas without readily accessible water supplies.
The absence of a nearby hydrant or open water source meant that additional time and resources were required to maintain the water supply for firefighting.
The closest available fire hydrant was reported to be about six kilometres from the affected area.
The four-acre fire also required firefighters to establish hose lines and work to contain the affected vegetation while managing the limited water supply.
The firefighting operation was therefore not completed on the first evening, with further action planned for the following day based on the outcome of discussions among the zone leadership and operations personnel.
