GEORGE TOWN: Firefighters took more than four hours to completely extinguish a massive fire which razed four warehouses near the air cargo complex of the Penang International Airpot in Batu Maung here last night.
State Fire and Rescue Department director Saadon Mokhtar said that the blaze was completely put out at 3.06am today.
The department had received a report about the fire at 10.50pm.
He said all four zinc warehouses were up to 90 per cent destroyed.
They had housed a range of items, including food, furniture and electrical products. A recycling warehouse was also located on the grounds.
No casualties were reported.
“We managed to control the blaze by 1.06am, and completely put it out two hours later.
“Overhaul works were subsequently carried out,” he added.
Saadon said initial investigation revealed that the fire started at the recycling warehouse, before the intense heat spread to the other three warehouses.
Photos and video footage of the raging fire found its way onto social media almost immediately after it broke out, as some Penangites feared that it was affecting the air cargo complex.
However, Penang International Airport officials clarified that the airport’s operations were not affected.