KUALA LUMPUR: The owner of a wooden board factory, one of two premises destroyed in a fire yesterday, has been left devastated.
The man, who only wanted to be identified as Pei, described it as a severe setback and estimated losses to the family-owned business to be about RM800,000.
A fire engulfed two factories along Jalan Welfare in Kampung Baru Cina, Sungai Buloh yesterday. However, firemen managed to prevent the blaze from spreading to other nearby factories.
Speaking to China Press, Pei said he had driven by his factory at 6.37am, without noticing anything unusual, before heading to a nearby coffee shop for breakfast.
"I had just sat down and ordered a bowl of pan mee when five minutes later, I heard someone shouting that a recycling factory was on fire. I immediately rushed over to my factory.
"When I got inside, I saw the flames spreading from the back. I quickly grabbed two accounting books, and within 10 minutes, my entire factory was engulfed in flames," he said.
The 53-year-old added that two lorries and a forklift could not be moved in time, and he watched helplessly as they were consumed by the flames.
One of the lorries had been purchased just two years ago for over RM100,000.
"This fire has completely destroyed our wooden board factory, dealing a severe blow to our family business, which has been in our family for more than two generations.
"I had just restocked a large amount of materials yesterday, and now it's all gone in the flames. I'm at a loss for words," he said.
On the other hand, the 64-year-old owner of an iron factory who only wanted to be known as Chen heaved a sigh of relief as his factory was spared from the flames.
"I received the news around 8am and immediately rushed to the scene, but I could only retrieve a small portion of my belongings, leaving the rest to fate," he said.
He noted that at around 11am, the fire was still spreading and had come within a few metres from his factory's fence, making him extremely anxious.
Half an hour later, he watched as firemen subdued the flames, and his factory was saved.