Pasir Gudang blaze spreads to 1.4ha, firefighters battle flames for 19 hours
PASIR GUDANG: Firefighters are still battling a blaze at Kampung Pasir Putih, near here, more than 19 hours after it broke out last night. No casualties have been reported. Johor Fire and Rescue Department operation commander Nazarudin Yusof said the fire, which broke out at 10.04pm, had spread from an initial 50ft by 50ft area to nearly 1.4ha. The blaze along Jalan Muhibbah is believed to have…
PASIR GUDANG: Firefighters continue their efforts to combat a blaze that has raged for over 19 hours at Kampung Pasir Putih, located near the city. No injuries have been reported thus far. According to Nazarudin Yusof, the operation commander from the Johor Fire and Rescue Department, the fire has expanded from an initial 50ft by 50ft area to nearly 1.4 hectares.
The incident occurred around 10.04pm, reportedly ignited when a group of men set fire to a pile of wood to salvage scrap metal. This caused the flames to engulf nearby fibreglass floats, spreading rapidly.
Currently, approximately 60% of the affected area, amounting to 0.836 hectares, has been brought under control, while the remaining 0.975 hectares, equivalent to about 1.4 hectares, continue to smolder. The operation has been impeded by the absence of nearby water sources, compelling firefighters to make frequent trips to a hydrant situated roughly 3.5 kilometers away to replenish their water reserves. To sustain the firefighting efforts, crews have also resorted to utilizing seawater from a nearby source.
The fire has taken hold of a fiber-storage area where timber blocks are stacked up to 10 feet high, necessitating firefighters to partition the operation into front and rear sections to effectively contain the blaze. Units from the Pasir Gudang and Johor Jaya fire stations, bolstered by the Ulu Tiram Volunteer Fire Brigade, deployed multiple hose lines and water jets in their battle against the inferno.
The Pasir Gudang Municipal Council (MBPG) further contributed by deploying a backhoe and an excavator to relocate unburnt materials to safer locations and clear burnt materials, thereby facilitating firefighters' access to hotspots.
So far, 17 firefighters have been actively involved in the operation, complemented by an additional 36 personnel from various agencies, including the Environment Department, MBPG, Civil Defence Force, and SWM Environment. Firefighting efforts are ongoing as crews work diligently to contain the blaze and thwart its further spread.
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