KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 7 — The forest fire in the hilly area of Taman Seri Timah, Balakong, near here, was fully extinguished early this morning after more than five hours of firefighting operations by the Selangor Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM).

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department Assistant Director (Operation) Ahmad Mukhlis Mukhtar said the fire and rescue team managed to control the blaze at about 9pm before completely extinguishing it at 12.15am today.

He said the fire involved a forest area on top of a hill, covering about 2.4 hectares, up from the initial estimate of 1.2 hectares.

“The fire department received an emergency call regarding the fire at 7.02pm yesterday, and the firefighting operation ended at 12.15am today. No casualties were reported,” he said in a statement today.

He said the operation involved 27 personnel from the Bandar Tun Hussein Onn, Seri Kembangan, Pandan Indah, Sungai Besi and Cheras fire and rescue stations (BBP), with Senior Fire Officer I Roduan Sudin as the operations commander.

Two senior officers were also at the location, namely Assistant Fire Chief (PPgB) Mohd Akmal Mohd Hairi and PPgB Mohd Hafis Hamdany, to coordinate actions on the ground.

“A total of six vehicles were used in the operation, namely a Fire Rescue Tender (FRT) from BBP Bandar Tun Hussein Onn, one FRT and one Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) unit from BBP Seri Kembangan, a water tanker each from BBP Pandan Indah and BBP Cheras, and one FRT from BBP Sungai Besi,” he said.

Ahmad Mukhlis said two volunteer fire brigades (PBS), namely PBS Balakong with six members and one four-wheel drive vehicle, and PBS Serdang with four members and one First Response Vehicle (FRV), also assisted in the forest firefighting operation.