Three fuel tanks at an illegal depot at Durian Burung near here caught fire late Sunday.

In the 9pm incident, the tanks containing about 30,000 litres of fuel and a three-tonne lorry were destroyed.

State Fire and Rescue Department public relations officer Supt Nur Hafizah Muhammad Lukman said, "The Department received a distress call at about 9.03pm and fire engines reached the scene 26 minutes later".

"Fire engines and tankers from Kuala Nerang, Pokok Sena and Alor Setar fire stations with more than 20 firemen were despatched to the fire scene. Many teams of voluntary fire fighting squads also aided.

"When they reached the scene, they saw that three fuel tanks with 20,000 to 30,000 litres of fuel were on fire, as well as three fuel pumps and a three-tonne lorry," he said.

Supt Nur Hafizah added that there were no fire hydrants at the scene.

"Foam was used to put out the fire and the fire was placed controlled at about 9.47pm.

"Nobody was injured in the fire," said Nur Hafizah.

A nearby villager, Norizan Abdul Rani, 49, said the depot had been operating at the area for a while.

"Loud explosions were heard and flames could be seen from two to three kilometres away," he said.

Source:
courtesy of THE STAR

by G.C. Tan

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