BUTTERWORTH, January 1 — Six three-storey shoplot units housing Synergy College, a private college, were destroyed in a fire along Jalan Perai Jaya here yesterday. Penang Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) assistant director of operations John Sagun Francis said the department received an emergency call at 5.10pm.
With the first fire engine from the Perai Fire and Rescue Station dispatched immediately to the scene. He said the blaze involved six shoplot units, each measuring about 93 square metres (1,000 square feet), and started on the ground floor after the premises were reconfigured from six units into a single unit before spreading to the upper levels.
Firefighters carried out both defensive and offensive operations and created fire breaks to prevent the flames from spreading to neighbouring buildings, with the fire brought under control at 6.34pm; as of 10pm, more than 50 firefighters from several stations and volunteer fire brigades were still engaged in extinguishing work, while the cause of the fire and the extent of losses remain under investigation.
Photo Credit: Bomba Sukarela Sungai Puyu Butterworth Pulau Pinang
