Firefighters face difficulty extinguishing factory fire due to low water pressure

SUNGAI PETANI: A recycling factory at Jalan PKNK Phase 3, Taman Industri, here, was destroyed in a fire today.

According to the Assistant Director of the Fire and Rescue Operations Division, Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (JBPM) Kedah, Senior Superintendent of Fire I Mohamadul Ehsan Mohd Zain, they received a call regarding the fire at 1.18 this morning.

"A team from the Sungai Petani Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) arrived at the location at 1.26 am.

"The operation was also assisted by BBP Tikam Batu, Aman Jaya and Yan with five machines and a water tank machine," he said.

A total of 37 members and officers were involved in the extinguishing operation and were also assisted by 20 members from the Sungai Petani Auxiliary Fire Brigade (PBS).

Mohamadul Ehsan said when he arrived at the location, it was found that the factory was on fire and the extinguishing operation was done by moving the members which were divided into three parts.

He said the operations commander also applied 'foam' assistance to the location because there were materials made of plastic.

"Welfare assistance and heavy machinery are also requested from the JBPM Kedah Operations Center (PGO).

"The PGO then instructed the BBP Amanjaya to manage the assistance to help the victims," he said.

Mohamadul Ehsan said the extinguishing efforts were difficult due to low water pressure problems at the location.

Following that, BBP Amanjaya control contacted Syarikat Air Darul Aman (SADA).

However, the incident occurred outside the service hours of the relevant parties which operate until 12 midnight only.

As of 8.37 am, PKB reported that the fire had been successfully controlled by 50 per cent.

However, Mohamadul Ehsan said low water pressure still occured at the fire location.

During the incident, all the factory workers involved managed to escape.

The cause and value of the loss are still under investigation.

He said the extinguishing operation was running until 5.20 am with the help of water tank machinery from JBPM Penang.