TRONOH, June 26 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) has identified 300 locations of peat forests nationwide where fires may occur during the El Nino phenomenon, predicted to hit Southeast Asia in the middle of the year.

Deputy director-general (Operations) of JBPM, Datuk Mahadi Md Ali, said he would ensure that all personnel were on standby to cope with the situation, including placing special teams in areas with high potential for fire.

"For example, right now we are operating in Putrajaya, using the facilities that we have such as water tankers and water carriers, and we have opened an operations centre to ensure extinguishing of fire can be done and the air unit carry out water bombing," he told reporters after the handing-over of the Tronoh Fire and Rescue Academy, here, today.

Mahadi said to fight peat forest fires, flooding the area was vital so that the fire could be doused immediately.

In an extinguishing operation, his team would work with the Department of Environment and the Drainage and Irrigation Department.

On the new academy, Mahadi said the first phase of the project worth RM24.5 million which began on Feb 22, 2012, was completed on June 12. It consists of the administration building, classrooms, dormitories, parade and water safety training facility and can accommodate 60 trainees.

-- BERNAMA