KOTA KINABALU: Over 100 staff and customers were evacuated when an air-conditioning compressor on the first floor of HSBC Gaya Street branch burst into flames here yesterday.
The fire department despatched three fire trucks to the location.
Fortunately, employees of the bank managed to put out the small fire and evacuated all the customers and staff by the time the Fire and Rescue Department personnel arrived.
HSBC Amanah Malaysia Berhad area director of East Malaysia, Ong Eng Mun, said the fire broke out from one of the air-conditioning compressors at the Service Department on the first floor at 10.40am.
It was believed that the fire was caused by the transistors in the compressor.
One of the staff noticed smoke coming out of the compressor room and immediately alerted the fire department whilst others quickly tried to extinguish the flames.
Over 100 bank employees and customers were evacuated to the designated assembly point outside Tong Hing Supermarket.
Ong said the bank had actually reviewed its air-conditioning compressors in the building and replaced the old ones last year.
“We did it as part of our energy drive to reduce the energy demand of the building,” he said.
He added that the bank’s standby generators were also replaced by new units last year.
Nonetheless, Ong said the bank would carry out inspections on all its electrical wiring following this incident.
On another note, he commended HSBC Gaya Street branch manager Loo Siong Ching and customer service manager Ismardy Mosial for carrying out the evacuation plan according to procedure and making sure that all employees were accounted for.
“All our staff are trained. We do fire drills to get people used to the concept of what to do when something happens, especially what to do with their computers and cash.
“There were a lot of customers in the bank (when the fire broke out) but they were escorted out of the building (by bank employees),” said Ong.
He also thanked the police who responded quickly and stationed themselves at the main entrance of the building to ensure security of the bank.
The employees and customers were given the all-clear to return to the building around 11.15am.