Fire destroys spare parts warehouse

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KUCHING: A recently constructed spare parts warehouse in Pending was destroyed in a massive fire  yesterday.

GUTTED: Thick smoke billowing from the warehouse as firefighters prepare to combat the blaze.

GUTTED: Thick smoke billowing from the warehouse as firefighters prepare to combat the blaze.

No injuries were reported in the 5.10pm incident as the owner and his employees inside the warehouse at Jalan Perdana were able to escape at the onset of the blaze.

Two foreign workers at an adjacent factory, who identified themselves as Libertus and Sohag, said the fire started at the rear section of the structure before spreading rapidly to other parts of the building.

It was understood that the warehouse had been in operation for less than three months following extensive renovation works.

The building was formerly the operational site of Pos Laju, which shifted to its new base in Stampin about a year ago, and had remained vacant until it was purchased by its current owner and converted into a storage facility.

The owner declined to be interviewed when approached, but two of his workers told reporters that the warehouse was used to store heavy machinery spare parts as well as drums of hydraulic fluid, engine oil and grease.

“There was not much stock inside the building because operations had only recently begun,” said one of the workers, adding that the employees inside consisted of eight women who performed clerical and other office work.

A Toyota Hilux belonging to the owner, which was parked beside the building, was partially damaged by the fire before someone quickly moved it to a safe distance.

Several brand new excavators and rollers belonging to the company were also spared any damage as they were parked several metres away from the structure.

Firemen from three stations arrived at the scene at 5.30pm and took about 15 minutes to bring the blaze under control.

Kuching zone operations chief Baharudin Idris said the department was informed of the fire at 5.22pm and despatched four engines and 30 personnel from its Padungan, Tabuan Jaya and Batu Lintang stations.

“The cause of the fire is being investigated, and total loss has not been ascertained yet,” he said.