MELAKA: Two grocery stores on Jalan Bunga Raya here were razed in a fire last night. A 10-second video recording of the fire has been circulating since this morning and shared on social media platforms.
Central Melaka district police chief Assistant Commissioner Christopher Patit said the fire occurred at around 11.40pm and was noticed by one of the affected shopkeepers who then contacted the fire and rescue department.
He said the female shopkeeper, M. Thee Moli, 28, noticed smoke coming out of the wooden wall behind the shop just before the incident.
"The team from the Central Melaka Fire and Rescue Station successfully extinguished the fire and fully controlled the situation by 1.15am.
"No casualties were reported and the fire only involved property damage," Christopher said when contacted.
Meanwhile, the Operation Commander, Deputy Fire Chief II Yazid Mohd Tahir said a team of 21 firefighters from the Central Melaka Fire and Rescue Station was dispatched to the scene immediately upon receiving the emergency call and arrived six minutes later.
"Upon arrival at the scene, the Operational Deployment Team (PKO) found that the fire involved a two-story shop building, with the first shop completely burnt down and the second shop 50 per cent destroyed, primarily on the upper level.
"The extinguishing operation utilised three water jets, and the fire was successfully controlled and fully extinguished," he said, adding that the cause of the fire is still under investigation.