Firefighters working frantically to put out the fire which destroyed three building blocks in Kolombong yesterday.
KOTA KINABALU: A machinery building, a showroom and a storeroom belonging to Royal Mattress along Jalan Kolombong here were destroyed in a predawn fire with losses expected to exceed a million ringgit.
The cause of the fire, which was believed to have started between 4.30am and 4.50am, was not immediately known.
The owner of the company who was staying in a room behind the factory suffered burns on his left arm when he tried to put out the fire before Fire and Rescue personnel arrived at the scene.
Close to 10 explosions were heard as dozens of drums of chemicals and raw materials, such as Polyetether Polyol, Methylene Chloride and TDI Desmodur which are flammable items, were kept in the storeroom.
Thick black smoke could be seen from the city centre as fire-fighters took about four hours to control the blaze.
City police chief ACP M. Chandra confirmed no untoward incident was reported in the incident.
“Investigation will be carried out once it is safe to enter the area.
“It is still too early to tell what had caused the fire as police have to wait for reports from the Fire and Rescue Department forensic team,” he said yesterday.
Chandra said the owner who sustained burns on his arm and hand while trying to put out the fire, had been taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital for treatment.
“He is reported to be in stable condition,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sabah Fire and Rescue director Nordin Pauzi, who was at the scene said it took his men about four hours to control the blaze.
“Several explosions occurred as there were flammable items such as chemicals and raw materials.
“The fire was also intense, making it difficult for my men to control the blaze,” he said.
“We first received a distress call at 5.02am and our first fire engine from Lintas arrived at the scene at 5.05am,” said Nordin.
A total of 70 firefighters and officers from Lintas, Sembulan, Penampang and Tuaran were involved in the operation.
Thirteen fire engines, including water tankers, were deployed.
Nordin also said that a team of Hazmat unit was also called in to control the flammable chemical.
Firefighters managed to control the blaze by 9am while the operation ended a couple of hours later.
“We will investigate the cause of the fire while total losses have been estimated at more than a million Ringgit,” said Nordin, adding that no one was seriously injured in the incident, including his men.
