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Burning smell, haze could be due to local vegetation fires: NEA
POSTED: 30 Mar 2016 12:11 **UPDATED: 30 Mar 2016 15:20
A woman wearing a face mask in Singapore. (File photo: Ngau Kai Yan)
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SINGAPORE: The burning smell detected in some parts of Singapore on Tuesday could have been caused by some local vegetation fires, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said.
The fires and some wind convergence over Singapore in the late afternoon on Tuesday could have also contributed to the deterioration in the air quality in some parts of the island on Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning, NEA said.
Air quality in Singapore is expected to remain in the Moderate range for the next 24 hours, the agency said. As of 11am on Wednesday, the 24-hour PSI reading was 68-82, in the Moderate range, while the 3-hour PSI reading was 71 and the 1-hr PM2.5 was 17-32 ug/m3.
Fair and warm conditions are forecast for the rest of Wednesday with prevailing winds blowing from the northeast.
While hotspot activities in the surrounding nearby region have been low, there has been a rise in the number of hotspots in the northern ASEAN region which is currently experiencing its traditional dry season, NEA said.
“This could result in an increased concentration of particulate matter such as dust particles in the atmosphere over the region,” it added.
Given the air quality forecast for the next 24 hours, everyone can continue with normal activities, NEA said. Those who are not feeling well, especially the elderly and children, and those with chronic heart or lung conditions, should seek medical attention.
The agency added that it is monitoring the situation closely and will provide further updates when necessary.
NUMBER OF VEGETATION FIRES DOWN: SCDF
In response to media queries, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said the number of vegetation fires in the first three months of the year was lower than the previous two years.
There were 121 vegetation fires between January and March, with 94 in March alone. This compares to 97 of such fires in March last year, and 239 in March 2014.
The largest fire this month occurred on Mar 2 along Yishun Ring Road, SCDF said. The fire involved a thick patch of vegetation measuring about 5m by 10m – less than one-quarter the size of a football field. SCDF officers extinguished the fire using two water jets within an hour.
- CNA/cy
Burning smell, haze could be due to local vegetation fires: NEA
POSTED: 30 Mar 2016 12:11 **UPDATED: 30 Mar 2016 15:20
A woman wearing a face mask in Singapore. (File photo: Ngau Kai Yan)
A
A
SINGAPORE: The burning smell detected in some parts of Singapore on Tuesday could have been caused by some local vegetation fires, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said.
The fires and some wind convergence over Singapore in the late afternoon on Tuesday could have also contributed to the deterioration in the air quality in some parts of the island on Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning, NEA said.
Air quality in Singapore is expected to remain in the Moderate range for the next 24 hours, the agency said. As of 11am on Wednesday, the 24-hour PSI reading was 68-82, in the Moderate range, while the 3-hour PSI reading was 71 and the 1-hr PM2.5 was 17-32 ug/m3.
Fair and warm conditions are forecast for the rest of Wednesday with prevailing winds blowing from the northeast.
While hotspot activities in the surrounding nearby region have been low, there has been a rise in the number of hotspots in the northern ASEAN region which is currently experiencing its traditional dry season, NEA said.
“This could result in an increased concentration of particulate matter such as dust particles in the atmosphere over the region,” it added.
Given the air quality forecast for the next 24 hours, everyone can continue with normal activities, NEA said. Those who are not feeling well, especially the elderly and children, and those with chronic heart or lung conditions, should seek medical attention.
The agency added that it is monitoring the situation closely and will provide further updates when necessary.
NUMBER OF VEGETATION FIRES DOWN: SCDF
In response to media queries, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said the number of vegetation fires in the first three months of the year was lower than the previous two years.
There were 121 vegetation fires between January and March, with 94 in March alone. This compares to 97 of such fires in March last year, and 239 in March 2014.
The largest fire this month occurred on Mar 2 along Yishun Ring Road, SCDF said. The fire involved a thick patch of vegetation measuring about 5m by 10m – less than one-quarter the size of a football field. SCDF officers extinguished the fire using two water jets within an hour.
- CNA/cy
