Kenderong Forest Has First Helipad And Tube Wells For Aerial Fire-fighting In Peninsula Malaysia

GERIK, Aug 12 (Bernama) -- The Kenderong Permanent Forest Reserve (PFR) made history of sorts when it became the first location in Peninsular Malaysia to be equipped with a helipad and tube wells to strengthen forest fire management.

Assistant director (Forest Plantation and Innovation Section) of the Perak Forestry Department (JPNPk), Mohamad Farhan Sukiman said the project provides an alternative water source besides relying on river water to extinguish forest fires at Kenderong PFR.

He said the construction of the project was carried out on Aug 7 last year and completed on Sept 25 the same year on a 0.2-hectare land in a former logging site or timber settlement with a construction cost of RM400,000.

"The Department of Minerals and Geoscience (JMG) provides geotechnical expertise for building the tube well complete with pumps, protective structures and safety system, while the JPNPk coordinates the location management, operations and technical implementation at the site.

"In addition, the construction of a helipad by the Perak Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) near the tube well shortens aerial operation time from 10 minutes to just three minutes for round trips to Kenderong PFR, while also reducing a reliance on open water source such as Sungai Perak and Tasik Banding," he said at a press conference when visiting the site here today.

Mohamad Farhan added that the initiative is a model of cross-agency collaboration based on technical expertise, integrated planning and long-term strategies in disaster management.

"The project is expected to open up space for the development of other high-impact infrastructure for the sake of environmental sustainability and national security, especially in the state of Perak which is rich in forested areas.

"This project is also the result of strategic cooperation between the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia (JPSM), the Perak State Government through the JPNPk, JMG and JBPM Perak under the allocation of the Forest Fire Infrastructure Construction and Equipment Procurement Project in Perak (2023–2025)," he said.

Meanwhile, acting assistant director (operations) for Perak JBPM Shazlean Mohd Hanafiah said that one of the main challenges in forest fire extinguishing operations is obtaining water sources, especially in remote and hilly areas.

"Previously, rescue teams had to transport water from fire hydrants in low-lying areas which took longer.

“With the presence of tube wells near the fire location, the problem of water sources can be reduced and the travel time becomes shorter.

“The second challenge is the uphill trek to the peak which can take six hours. Usually vehicles have to stop at the foot of the hill before personnel continue the journey on foot,” he said.

He said the assistance from the JBPM Air Unit greatly eased the operational burden by sending personnel and equipment to the peak using helicopters, taking advantage of the existing landing point.

"Previously, the main source of water was from lakes or mines using special equipment known as Hellywells, which are 20-foot high cylindrical tanks filled with water and used with helicopter bambi buckets for aerial firefighting.

"This area is suitable for the installation of hellywells and tube wells, thus giving the fire department a great advantage in forest fire suppression operations," he said.

-- BERNAMA