{
  "id": 4091821,
  "title": "Penang factory fire leaves owner with first-degree burns",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/penang-factory-fire-leaves-owner-with-first-degree-burns",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-29T03:03:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/regional/2026/08/1521117/penang-factory-fire-leaves-owner-first-degree-burns"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "BUTTERWORTH, Penang - The owner of a fabric-processing factory suffered first-degree burns to his hands and neck while attempting to extinguish a fire that severely damaged his premises, according to a report from the Penang Fire and Rescue Department. The 58-year-old man was promptly transported to a nearby hospital for medical attention. The fire, reported to the department at 6.09pm, was the result of a blaze that engulfed a factory specialized in fabric processing. The conflagration caused extensive damage, with the factory's operations being reduced to 20 per cent of their former capacity. Additionally, two motorcycles, a four-tonne lorry, and a forklift were also partially destroyed, suffering 50 per cent, 90 per cent, and 90 per cent damage respectively. The fire was brought under control at 6.28pm, with assistance from the Volunteer Fire Brigade and a private company's excavator. Firefighters labored for nearly ten hours to fully extinguish the blaze, which was completely subdued by 4.35am the following morning. The operation, which involved 26 personnel from various fire stations across Penang, concluded at 6.59am, after which the case was transferred to the Fire Investigation Team for further examination.",
  "summary": "BUTTERWORTH: The owner of a fabric-processing factory suffered first-degree burns to his hands and neck while trying to put out a fire that destroyed about 80 per cent of his premises in Jalan Bagan Ajam here yesterday afternoon.",
  "key_points": [
    "58-year-old factory owner suffered first-degree burns while trying to extinguish fire.",
    "Fire extinguished after 10 hours of firefighting effort by 26 personnel."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The factory fire severely hampers the owner's operations, reducing them to just 20 per cent of their former capacity, and also destroys several of his vehicles and equipment.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Vibes",
        "title": "Factory destroyed, owner injured as two fires strike Penang and Selangor",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/factory-destroyed-owner-injured-as-two-fires-strike-penang-and",
        "published": "2026-08-29T03:54:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}