99% forest and bush fires caused by people’s ‘don’t care’ attitude

KEPALA BATAS: The Fire and Rescue Department said it is the people's attitude that has been the cause of 99% of the 17,000 of forest and bush fires reported during the hot and dry weather nationwide this year.

Its director-general, Datuk Wan Mohd Nor Ibrahim, said Johor, Selangor and Perak recorded the highest number of forest and bush fires, with up to 500 cases reported each day.
"Our investigations found that most of the cases were due to open burning with the hot and dry weather causing the fire to spread easily.
"However, over the past few days the number of reported forest and bush fires have dropped to 100 to 200 cases a day," he said after an award presentation ceremony at the Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Department here.
Today, where 142 officers and firefighters from Perlis, Kedah and Penang received their Awards of Distinction and Certificates of Meritorious Service.
Wan Mohd also warned the people not to dispose burning cigarette butts indiscriminately.
He said they were working with the Department of Environment to determine what legal action could be taken against those responsible for the open burning at the expense of the environment. – Bernama