KOTA SAMARAHAN: Repeated fires at Demak Laut Industrial Park have highlighted the need for operators handling combustible materials to strengthen fire safety measures and properly declare hazardous materials stored on their premises, says Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) Sarawak director Jambri Masran.
Jambri said the recurrence of fires at the same location pointed to shortcomings in fire safety management, particularly in the storage of combustible materials and emergency preparedness.
“We are seeing repeated incidents at the same location.
“There is room for improvement in terms of fire safety management and the handling of combustible materials,” he said when met by reporters after the department’s July monthly assembly at the Kota Samarahan Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) Zone 2 here today (July 20).
He urged operators to store combustible materials in accordance with fire safety requirements and fully declare them to the department, saying this would enable firefighters to better assess risks and respond more effectively during emergencies.
Jambri said undeclared hazardous materials could complicate firefighting operations, as emergency responders may be unaware of the substances present upon arriving at the scene.
“Although it is not mandatory for smaller operators to establish an Emergency Response Team, I strongly encourage those handling flammable materials to do so.
“With a trained team in place, they can respond to a fire at its initial stage before firefighters arrive and help prevent it from spreading,” he said.
He said the arrangement of stored materials at the affected premises had also made firefighting more challenging, with fires continuing beneath stacked items even after surface flames had been extinguished.
He added that Bomba had instructed the premises owner to remove burnt materials from the site to eliminate remaining hotspots and reduce the risk of another fire.
The remarks followed three separate fire incidents at Demak Laut Industrial Park over the past week, comprising the major blaze that destroyed five premises, another fire at the same site the following day, and another incident this morning.
