Brave Female Firefighters Lend Strength To Contain Simpang Renggam Peatland Fire

By Kamaru Halim M Kamal

KLUANG, Feb 2 (Bernama) -- As a peatland fire swept across a Simpang Renggam plantation, two women stood resolute, battling the flames and lending their strength and courage to the firefighting effort.

One took part in the frontline efforts at the pineapple and oil palm plantation, while the other oversaw the operation, planning strategies to contain and extinguish the fire that had spread over more than nine hectares.

Johor Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Zone 3 head Siti Hajar Sanusi said that since taking charge of the zone in 2023, this had been the largest peatland fire operation she had ever conducted.

Having started her career in 2012 as head of the Fire Investigation Branch in Zone 1, she said her responsibilities as operation leader included determining firefighting methods and tackling operational challenges, such as sourcing adequate water.

“People may think being a leader is easy, but to me, it is a huge responsibility that must be shouldered diligently,” she told Bernama during the firefighting operation at the nine-hectare plantation yesterday.

Siti Hajar, a native of Parit Sulong, Batu Pahat, said fighting peatland fires was the most demanding task for firefighters, as embers could flare up repeatedly in the same spot, unlike other types of fires that usually go out entirely.

“The hot and dry weather, strong winds, dust and smoke add to the challenges, along with days of careful monitoring, where every part of the plantation must be checked to ensure no embers remain,” she said.

Recalling her time with the rescue team, the mother of three admitted that becoming a firefighter was not her first choice, as she had been more interested in pursuing education since her school days.

“When I was a kid, I always wanted to be a teacher. But after trying a few times and not getting it, I accepted that luck plays its part. Applying to be a firefighter was a different story, I applied once and got in, even passing the physical test,” she said.

According to Siti Hajar, a career as a firefighter is demanding since you must always be prepared and cannot stick to regular office hours.

Meanwhile, Nur Fitrah Syuhada Asmayor, 23, who joined the department in November 2024, said that extinguishing peatland fires was challenging because it required staying in the same location for long periods.

The youngest of five siblings said that this was her first experience participating in peatland fire operations, having previously been more involved in smaller-scale fires at business or residential premises.

“Extinguishing peatland fires is different as it requires work over several days and hours spent on the embers.

“We stay at each location for quite some time to make sure the embers are completely extinguished before moving to the next area,” said the Kluang native.

--BERNAMA