About 80 hectares of rubber smallholding at the South Kelantan Development Authority’s (Kesedar) land settlement scheme in Chenulang, Kuala Krai have been destroyed in fire over the past few days.
State fire and rescue chief Azmi Osman said the department was only informed about the fire at 2.30 pm on Wednesday and 10 firemen from the Kuala Krai station went to the scene and put it out until early yesterday morning.
He said the men were called back to the scene in the afternoon after the fire started again.
“The land settlement covered an area of about 320 hectares which were planted with rubber trees but only part of it was involved. The fire is scattered and from early observation, it has been going for at least five or six days.
“The hilly terrain make the area inaccessible by fire engines. So, our men have to go in four-wheel-drive vehicles and control the fire using fire beaters,” he said.
Azmi said officers have been sent to the scene to investigate and additional men would be called up if it was needed.
Meanwhile, a witness Muhamad Afzan Hafiz Seman,39, said he was collecting rubber scraps when saw fire burning lalang and his rubber trees at about 2pm on Wednesday.
“The fire spread rapidly. I panicked and rushed to the village headman’s house to inform him about the incident,” he said.
Muhammad Afzan said about 50 settlers stood to lose their income following the fire.
“I am worried for my family as the rubber trees were our sole income. I do not know what to do to feed them,” he said.
Source: New Straits Times
Published: 27 Feb 2014