KLANG - Peat fires have been burning in three main areas in Selangor, caused by uncontrolled open burning by farmers and plantation workers.

State Fire and Rescue director Soiman Jahid said the areas were Kampung Pulau Kempas in Banting, Johan Setia near here and a stretch along the Putrajaya Link between Putrajaya and Cyberjaya.

He added the peat fire in Kampung Pulau Kempas had been brought down to 16ha from 20ha.

"There is no more surface fire but the burning is still going on underground," Soiman told a press conference yesterday.

He said firemen were flooding the area with water, which would seep down to the fires.

Soiman said the peat fires along the Putrajaya Link had been brought down from 8ha to 0.8ha within three days.

He said the 11ha peat fire in the Johan Setia and Jalan Kebun area had also been reduced to 0.8ha.

Soiman said it was irresponsible of plantation workers and farmers to take advantage of the dry spell to carry out open burning.

"We want the opening burning to stop immediately as it is the main cause of the haze," he said.

He said grass, plantation waste and bushes were also being burnt all over the state.

"Almost all the fire stations in the state are involved in putting out these fires."

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