Dry weather fuels blaze in Pengerang, forcing evacuations and prompting air-quality alerts across the strait.
SINGAPORE — Firefighters in southern Malaysia are battling a rapidly spreading peat fire in Pengerang, Johor, as smoke from the blaze drifts across the strait and affects air quality in parts of Singapore.
The fire, which broke out on Jan 23, has expanded dramatically, growing from an initial area of about five hectares to nearly 100 hectares by the evening of Jan 27 — roughly the size of 120 football fields. The blaze has forced more than 100 residents to evacuate and is one of several hotspots in Johor contributing to haze conditions in the region.
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Fire Spreads Rapidly in Hot, Dry Conditions
Officials say the peat fire has been intensified by dry and hot weather, coupled with strong winds. Aznan Tamin, the Pengerang state assemblyman, told reporters on Jan 26 that these conditions were the primary cause of the fire’s spread.
The affected area lies near the Taman Bayu Damai estate, along Jalan Sungai Kapal in the Punggai area of Pengerang, about 55 kilometres from Johor Bahru. Residents in nearby communities reported thick smoke seeping into homes as the fire intensified.
Firefighters Deploy Ground Measures, Seek Air Support
The Johor Fire and Rescue Department has focused on containing the blaze by isolating burning sections of peat soil. Superintendent Muhammad Tarmizi Md Jaafar, assistant director of the department’s fire and rescue operations division, said crews had dug canals using excavators to prevent further spread.
“We have managed to control the spread of the wildfire, and the next step is to initiate total water flooding of the peat grounds,” he said in an interview on Jan 27.
The department has also requested helicopter assistance from Malaysia’s central airbase in Subang, Selangor, to conduct water-bombing operations. Depending on aircraft availability, those operations are expected to begin on the morning of Jan 28.
Haze Reaches Singapore, Authorities Monitor Closely
Across the strait, Singaporean authorities are keeping a close watch on air quality as smoke from Johor drifts southward. On Jan 24, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said a detected hotspot and smoke plume in Johor had caused air quality in eastern Singapore to fall into the unhealthy range.
By Jan 26, a burning smell had become noticeable in some areas, prompting the agency to step up monitoring. NEA maps showed several vegetation fire hotspots north of Singapore.
In its latest update on Jan 27, NEA said Singapore’s 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index ranged from 39 to 61, placing air quality in the good to moderate range as of 6pm.
PM2.5 Levels Remain Within Normal Range — For Now
As of 11pm on Jan 27, PM2.5 levels — which measure fine inhalable particles up to 2.5 micrometres in diameter — stood at 10 in central Singapore and 20 in eastern parts of the island, according to NEA data. Readings between zero and 55 are considered normal.
Still, the agency cautioned that conditions could change. “With dry weather ahead, prevailing winds from the north and north-east could transport smoke haze from any persistent fires towards Singapore,” NEA said in a Facebook post.
The peat fire in Pengerang underscores the challenges of managing wildfires during prolonged dry spells, particularly in peat-rich areas where underground fires can be difficult to extinguish.
As firefighters press on with ground operations and await aerial support, authorities on both sides of the border remain on alert — balancing immediate firefighting efforts with public health concerns as the region braces for the possibility of worsening haze.
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