KUANTAN: The operation to put out the fire at a 285ha of forest and pineapple plantation near Kampung Cenderawasih and Palma Valley in Pekan, which started on March 7, has been successfully completed after 17 days.

Pahang Fire and Rescue Department director, Mohd Razam Taja Rahim, said the department is still monitoring the area in case of any new sparks that could reignite flames in the peatland region.

"The fire was fully extinguished yesterday (March 23), but we remain concerned about the potential threats posed by embers lingering underground. The department is utilising drones for aerial surveillance along the forest perimeters and will deploy firemen on the ground to check for any signs of fire.

"We will continue to monitor the area for at least the next two weeks, particularly due to the current hot weather. Even the Kuantan-Sungai Ular bypass fire site, which destroyed approximately 176 hectares of plantation and forest earlier this month, is still under observation by the Gebeng fire station," he told reporters at a shopping mall today.

Mohd Razam had earlier accompanied Pahang Public Works, Transport, and Health Committee chairman Datuk Ir. Razali Kassim to launch the road safety campaign and Op Siaga Raya Aidilfitri 2025.

The firefighting operation, which began on March 7, involved 113 firefighters from nine stations across Pahang, including the department's Special Tactical Operation and Rescue Team of Malaysia (Storm).

Other agencies assisting on the ground included the Pahang Forestry Department, the Pekan Civil Defence Force, and volunteer firemen from the Orang Asli community fire team.

Last week, Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman said the Pekan wildfires may have been caused by open burning but not linked to any drug-related activities as previously claimed.