TAIPING: It has been almost 24 hours since 46 firemen battled the intense fire at a rubber factory here.
The fire, which broke out on Tuesday evening, raged on strong at the storage unit filled with motorcycle tyres.
Fire and Rescue Department’s operation chief Mohamed Habib Mohamed Dali said the operations took longer than expected as it was difficult to put out the smouldering embers of the stacks of tyres.
He said the department was alerted of the fire at 6.46pm and deployed firefighters from Taiping, Bagan Serai, Kuala Kangsar, Kuala Kurau and Kuala Sepetang.
Habib said that the fire had destroyed 75 per cent of the store room and the firemen are now focused on overhaul works, ensuring that the fire have been entirely put out.
“At first, we had difficulties in putting out the ashes as there were stacks of motorcycle tyres in the store room. Normally, it would take more time to control fire at rubber factories,” he said.
He added that the firefighters have ordered the company to use an excavator to assist with the operations.
“The excavator is being used to scrape the stacks of rubber tyres while our men put down the fire,” he said, adding that no casualties were reported in the incident.
He revealed that as of 5pm, 21 firefighters were still working at the site.
“The first team which has been working since yesterday, was replaced with another team which started at 8am,” he said, adding that 95 per cent of the fire has been put out.