JOHOR BAHRU: The Fire and Rescue Department today denied claims that went viral on social media the fire in the Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA) Intensive Care Unit here was caused by a charging mobile phone.
Johor Fire and Rescue Operations Division assistant director Mohd Rizal Buang said the actual cause of the fire had yet to be identified as the investigation on the fire was still ongoing.
He said up till now, the investigation team was still gathering evidence at the scene to be brought back to the laboratory at the state headquarters besides recording and interviewing witnesses.
“I personally lead the operations, so witnesses informed the fire originated from the treatment room.
“If we take a look, the treatment room only has a refrigerator to accommodate medicine and that’s all, we do not see any fire hazard as claimed like charging of battery and so on. That was not there,” he told reporters at HSA, here today.
In the meantime, Mohd Rizal said the department also suggested that every building, especially old ones, should be examined for their safety level and upgrading of security system.
"For example, at the district level meeting, we have suggested that old buildings be upgraded using non flammable materials," he said.
Meanwhile commenting on the monitoring of the first floor, which was closed temporarily due to sparks last night, Mohd Rizal said the department had handed over responsibility to HSA for further action as no fire hazard was found.
However his team was always ready in HSA during the cleaning operations, he added. -- Bernama