26.6.1 Fire Danger Rating System (FDRS) by Malaysian
Meteorological Department (MMD)
Malaysian Meteorological Department (MMD), in supporting the effort to reduce
the impact of forest fire, especially on the peatland, has introduced various early
warning information and tools, such as seasonal weather forecast, hotspot monitoring, report of non-raining days, report of weather condition during severe haze
episodes as well as Fire Danger Rating System (FDRS), to the relevant disaster
management agencies as well as the public. FDRS, as one of the fire management
tools, has been continuously running and displayed daily indices and codes on the
MMD official webpage since 2003.
Originally, the FDRS is adapted from Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating
System. It is a software system that rates the risk of fire based on meteorological
data and ground conditions. Overlaid with land use and other relevant maps, the
FDRS maps would help agencies responsible for peatland management and fire
control to plan patrol routes/schedules and take necessary and appropriate measure
to control fires before they spread.
As the FDRS is reliable and effective, it could enhance relevant stakeholders’
preparedness in fire prevention and control. The basic structure of the FDRS is
divided into three segments, namely weather conditions, material moisture concept
and fire behaviour concept. Weather conditions such as temperature, humidity, wind
speed and rainfall are the main inputs to this system. The second segment is the
concept of moisture content consisting of Fine Fuel Moisture Code (FFMC), Duff
Moisture Code (DMC) and Drought Code (DC). The last segment is a concept of fire
behaviour that consists of Initial Spread Index (ISI), Build Up Index (BUI) and Fire
Weather Index (FWI) (Fig. 26.6).
26.6.2 Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
for Implementing Peat Fire Prevention Programme
to Combat Haze in Malaysia
The Government of Malaysia has directed the National Disaster Coordinating
Committee to include forest fires under its jurisdiction in addition to its existing
responsibilities for flood, urban fires and industrial and other natural disasters. The
Department of Environment (DOE) of KASA has been implementing a National
Programme on Implementing Peat Fire Prevention to Combat Haze in Malaysia
since 2009. In 2019, the DOE had reviewed and updated the existing SOP and
assessed the effectiveness of the infrastructures constructed under the National
Programme. A revised and updated version of the Standard Operating Procedure
(SOP) in Implementing Peat Fire Prevention Programme to Combat Haze in Malaysia (DOE 2019a) and draft Master Plan for Management of Fire Prone Peatlands in
Malaysia 2021–2030 (DOE 2019b) were produced in late 2019.
26 National Strategies on Responsible Management of Tropical Peatland in Malaysia
703
Meteorological Department (MMD)
Malaysian Meteorological Department (MMD), in supporting the effort to reduce
the impact of forest fire, especially on the peatland, has introduced various early
warning information and tools, such as seasonal weather forecast, hotspot monitoring, report of non-raining days, report of weather condition during severe haze
episodes as well as Fire Danger Rating System (FDRS), to the relevant disaster
management agencies as well as the public. FDRS, as one of the fire management
tools, has been continuously running and displayed daily indices and codes on the
MMD official webpage since 2003.
Originally, the FDRS is adapted from Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating
System. It is a software system that rates the risk of fire based on meteorological
data and ground conditions. Overlaid with land use and other relevant maps, the
FDRS maps would help agencies responsible for peatland management and fire
control to plan patrol routes/schedules and take necessary and appropriate measure
to control fires before they spread.
As the FDRS is reliable and effective, it could enhance relevant stakeholders’
preparedness in fire prevention and control. The basic structure of the FDRS is
divided into three segments, namely weather conditions, material moisture concept
and fire behaviour concept. Weather conditions such as temperature, humidity, wind
speed and rainfall are the main inputs to this system. The second segment is the
concept of moisture content consisting of Fine Fuel Moisture Code (FFMC), Duff
Moisture Code (DMC) and Drought Code (DC). The last segment is a concept of fire
behaviour that consists of Initial Spread Index (ISI), Build Up Index (BUI) and Fire
Weather Index (FWI) (Fig. 26.6).
26.6.2 Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
for Implementing Peat Fire Prevention Programme
to Combat Haze in Malaysia
The Government of Malaysia has directed the National Disaster Coordinating
Committee to include forest fires under its jurisdiction in addition to its existing
responsibilities for flood, urban fires and industrial and other natural disasters. The
Department of Environment (DOE) of KASA has been implementing a National
Programme on Implementing Peat Fire Prevention to Combat Haze in Malaysia
since 2009. In 2019, the DOE had reviewed and updated the existing SOP and
assessed the effectiveness of the infrastructures constructed under the National
Programme. A revised and updated version of the Standard Operating Procedure
(SOP) in Implementing Peat Fire Prevention Programme to Combat Haze in Malaysia (DOE 2019a) and draft Master Plan for Management of Fire Prone Peatlands in
Malaysia 2021–2030 (DOE 2019b) were produced in late 2019.
26 National Strategies on Responsible Management of Tropical Peatland in Malaysia
703