KUANTAN: The forest and pineapple plantation fire near Kampung Cenderawasih in Pekan which began on March 7 has spread to 113ha, compared to 94ha on Wednesday.

Pahang Fire and Rescue Department director Mohd Razam Taja Rahim said, so far, the fire in 93.36ha have been successfully extinguished.

He said firemen were actively working on the remaining 19.64ha to prevent it from spreading further by dividing the operation into three sectors.

Razam said the operation involved 99 firemen from the Pekan station, with the assistance of eight other stations, including Nenasi, Peramu, Indera Mahkota and Kuantan, over the nine-day operation.

"The operation also involves monitoring by air and extinguishing the forest fire with 'water bombing' near the pineapple plantation in Kampung Cenderawasih. The aircraft had carried out 181 water bombing sorties at the fire location with 259,326l of water.

"The water is sourced from three ditches near the plantation and the bombing was carried out at a height of (30-60m), while on the ground, firefighters apply bush fire techniques," he said in a statement.

Razam said, however, water bombing could not be carried out today due a hydraulic system issue on the aircraft, and it was directed back to the Peramu station.

He said, apart from the "water bombing" method, firemen were also actively carrying out direct extinguishing, fire suppression and flooding the areas on fire.