KUALA LUMPUR – Shoppers at IOI Mall Puchong experienced an unexpected turn of events this evening when a decorative Chinese New Year display suddenly caught fire.
The Selangor Fire and Rescue Department swiftly responded to a call at 7.20pm, mobilising a team to the scene.
Fortunately, quick-thinking good Samaritans took matters into their own hands and managed to extinguish the flames using dry-powder fire extinguishers before the Fire Department arrived.
There were no injuries reported from the incident.
In an initial report, the department revealed that half of the 3×3 sq ft decoration was engulfed in flames. Operation commander Haswan Mohd Wasir confirmed no casualties and assured that there was no structural damage to the mall.
Images given by the department showed the pavilion’s pillars standing strong, although the roof was charred, and the base covered in ash.
As of press time, the cause of the fire remains undetermined.
CNY booth at IOI Mall Puchong. Stay safe everyone 😨 pic.twitter.com/j83BOAD4pW
— Akml B. (@ItsAkmal) January 27, 2024
Meanwhile, the mall’s management issued a statement confirming the incident. It said operations in the building were not affected.
“We are saddened to inform that a fire incident occurred today at 7.10pm. Fortunately, no one was injured or harmed in the incident and the fire was quickly contained by 7.15pm,” it said.
“The cause of the fire is still under investigation and we are cooperating fully with the relevant agencies and local authorities. We apologise for any inconvenience or concern this may have caused.
“All operations have been resumed currently with no disruption. Thank you for your patience and understanding.” – January 27, 2024