KUALA TERENGGANU: The presence of live electrical wires prevented firemen from promptly putting out a fire which engulfed a row of 12 shophouses in Jalan Bandar, Kampung Cina, here, last night.
Terengganu Fire and Rescue Department deputy director Mohd Khairiri Arshad said the department received a distress call at 8.42pm.
However, before the emergency call was made, firemen were already at the scene. This was after the Jalan Kota Fire and Rescue Station, located 300 metres away, had received an initial report on the incident.
"A team from the station together with a fire tender found as many as five shops ablaze. The windy conditions caused the flames to spread quickly.
"The blaze spread rapidly as the upper structure of the buildings were made of wood," he told reporters at the scene last night.
Khairiri, who led the operation, said 70 firefighters, including 10 officers and seven fire engines from the Jalan Kota, Kuala Terengganu, Kuala Nerus and Marang fire brigade stations, in addition to volunteer firemen, police personnel and the Civil Defence Force were involved in battling the blaze.
"A large amount of electrical wiring at the scene was one reason why it was difficult to put out the flames despite firemen arriving early.
"Firemen had to be careful to avoid any untoward incident because the electrical wires were still live," he said.
Khairiri said among the 12 premises razed were clothing shops, a tailoring outlet, a locksmith, restaurants and a lodging inn. There were no casualties as people fled the scene and most shops had already closed for the day.
"It took us 45 minutes to bring the fire under control. The state fire brigade Forensic Unit is investigating to identify the cause of the fire and extent of losses," he said.