Permatang tinggi: Firefighters took over 10 hours to extinguish a rubbish dump blaze at a recycling plant in Permatang Tinggi Industrial Area yesterday. Penang Fire and Rescue Department deputy fire operations director John Sagun Francis said they received the emergency call at 1.54 pm, and the first crew from Bukit Mertajam fire station rushed to the scene.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, upon arrival, the team found the fire engulfing a pile of paper waste and cardboard in an open factory area spanning an estimated 3,716.12 square metres. The fire was brought under control at 3.36 pm and extinguished 10 minutes later, but operations only wrapped up at 12.04 am today after overhaul work confirmed no hot spots remained.

John Sagun Francis stated that the fire caused about 80 per cent damage, but thankfully, there were no worker injuries or fatalities reported at the plant. The operation also had support from Sungai Bakap, Batu Kawan, and Bandar Perda fire stations, 11 volunteer fire brigades, and an excavator to break up the burning waste piles.