Peatland fire management in Malaysia : current approaches and challenges

Abstract

Peatland fires in Malaysia are a recurrent environmental hazard associated with prolonged drought conditions and human activities. Interviewees and respondents perceived human-related activities to be major contributors, and fire incidents were reported to decline during the COVID-19 pandemic period. In response to this issue, this study examines critical management strategies and firefighter efforts to control peatland fire occurrences, focusing on risk assessment and suppression effectiveness. To achieve this, the research integrates structured interviews with peatland fire managers and survey responses from 366 individuals involved in fire suppression. As a result, the collected data provide insights into policy frameworks, prevention measures, and safety challenges. Specifically, findings highlight inefficiencies in fire management policies, gaps in prevention and suppression strategies, and notable firefighter safety concerns. Furthermore, perspectives from management and frontline responders reveal operational challenges and key areas for improvement. Consequently, this study enhances understanding of peatland fire prevention approaches, contributing factors influencing fire occurrences, and the safety risks faced by firefighters. By building on these insights, the study emphasizes the necessity of integrating both managerial and frontline perspectives in comprehensive fire risk mitigation. Ultimately, the findings support improved risk assessment frameworks and policy recommendations, advocating for a more effective peatland fire management approach. Therefore, this study underscores future research directions in fire suppression strategies, safety protocols, and management efficiency enhancements.