FINDING: Peat fire in Banting and plantation blaze in Sabak Bernam under control

 SHAH ALAM: A PEAT fire covering an 83ha area in Banting and a 90ha plantation fire in Sabak Bernam are not contributing to the deteriorating air quality, said the Selangor Department of Environment (DOE).

Its director Siti Zaleha Ibrahim, said the two fires, caused by the dry and hot weather, were under control and the Fire and Rescue Department and DOE were closely monitoring the situation.

"These fires are considered spot burning as not the entire area is on fire. API readings would not increase to above 100 from these fires," she said.

Siti Zaleha said the department could not accurately predict when the haze, caused by forest fires in north and central Sumatra, would clear.

"Selangor is the closest to Sumatra, which is why it is the worst hit, with several areas in the state experiencing a dip in air quality," she said, adding that the haze was expected to drift later to Perak and Penang.

She reminded the public to refrain from open burning and to cooperate by putting out small fires and report any open burning to the Fire and Rescue Department at 999 or DOE's toll free line 1-800-88-2727.

The DOE updates the API readings three times a day at 7am, 11am and 5pm and the data is available at http://www.doe.gov.my/portal/

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department said the situation should remain hazy for "the next few days" due to the hot and dry weather.

Based on the weather forecast, there will be no rain in Penang, Perlis and Malacca for the next six days.

Only isolated showers in the afternoon in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Selangor and Johor are expected from tomorrow to Friday.