KUALA LUMPUR – The firefighting operation at a paint factory in Taman Perindustrian Meru, Kapar, has been ongoing for over eight hours now.
Kapar senior fire and rescue officer Mohd Yunus Ibrahim confirmed that the fire has been mostly extinguished, with the blaze approximately 95% under control as of 2.30pm.
The fire engulfed two buildings within the same factory.
“We received the distress call at 6.34am, and the extinguishing operation commenced at 6.36am.
“The incident did not result in any loss of life or injuries,” he said.
He said that Block A was completely destroyed, whereas Block B was 60% destroyed.
The cause of the fire and the extent of the damage are still under investigation.
A total of 45 officers and members of the Fire and Rescue Department, along with machinery from Kapar, Bukit Jelutong, Andalas, Port Klang, Shah Alam, and Rawang stations, were promptly dispatched to the location, Mohd Yunus said.
“Six fire engines, three Emergency Service Support Units (EMRS), and one Aerial Ladder Platform (ALP) unit were dispatched to the location to assist in controlling the fire,” he added.
It is understood that the incident also resulted in the closure of two schools in Meru, namely Meru National School (SK) and Secondary Religious School (SRA) II, both situated near the factory.
The areas surrounding the two schools were engulfed in smoke, raising concerns about the potential spread of chemicals from the factory’s paint. – April 29, 2024