Puchong blaze guts four factories, collapse risk remains

On September 17, a devastating fire engulfed four factories in the Puchong Industrial Park, causing significant damage and raising concerns over potential structural collapse. The Selangor Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) was alerted to the emergency at 6:34 am, dispatching resources to the scene within minutes.

The blaze affected an expansive area of 80 by 100 feet, impacting four separate establishments. These were a tyre factory, a hardware factory producing pipes and valves, a furniture factory, and an engineering factory. Despite the initial extent of the fire, the JBPM assistant director of operations, Ashrul Riezal Asbar, confirmed that the situation was under control by 8:30 am. However, the firefighting efforts were not yet complete, with crews still working on the roofs and inside the factories.

The operation required the coordinated efforts of 33 personnel and 12 fire engines from multiple stations, including Puchong, Subang Jaya, Penchala, Petaling Jaya, Seri Kembangan, and Cyberjaya. Asbar emphasized that while the fire spread remained contained, there was an ongoing risk of further structural damage, particularly to the roofs and building frameworks.

The cause and extent of the damage were still under investigation at the time of the report.