JOHOR BAHRU, Oct 15 (Bernama) -- A rubbish disposal site in Jalan Muhibbah, Kampung Pasir Putih, near Pasir Gudang, caught fire last night.
Pasir Gudang Fire and Rescue Station operations commander Senior Fire Officer I Mohd Zuhdieyusni Said said 18 personnel, along with fire engines and other equipment, including a team from the Johor Jaya Fire and Rescue Station, were dispatched to the scene after an emergency call was received at 10.04 pm.
He said that as of 3.17 am today, the fire had spread over an area of 500 square feet (46.45 square metres), affecting an area near stored fibre material involving piles of buoy blocks stacked up to 10 feet high.
“Firefighting operations have been hampered by the lack of nearby water sources.
“Firefighters have had to rely on portable pumps drawing seawater and make repeated trips to the nearest fire hydrant, 3.5 kilometres away, to replenish the fire engines’ water tanks,” he said in a statement.
Mohd Zuhdieyusni said firefighting operations were still ongoing, adding that no casualties had been reported.
The incident had earlier gone viral on social media, with several photographs and videos showing the fire last night.
-- BERNAMA