SUNGAI PETANI: Three firefighter were rushed to hospital after they suffered injuries during a firefighting operation at a recycling factory in the Ria Jaya Industrial Area this morning.
State Fire and Rescue Department deputy director (operations) Mohamadul Ehsan Bin Mohd Zain said the three firefighters — two men and a woman, aged between 26 and 41 — were crushed by falling piles of recycled paper during the operation.
"Two of them suffered burns to the leg and neck and the female firefighter suffered slight injury to the cheek.
"The three, from the Sungai Petani fire station, were given emergency medical treatment before they were rushed to Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital for further treatment."
Ehsan said firefighters from four stations and 56 volunteer firefighters took about two hours to bring the 5.18am fire at the recycling factory's two warehouses under control.
He said besides water, they also used three 200-litre barrels of foam and 10 75-litre barrels of foam to put out the fire at the 30m by 100m warehouses.
NST Online reported this morning that residents in Taman Ria Jaya and nearby areas woke up to the sight of a towering column of smoke caused by the blaze.
Pictures and videos of the huge fire have gone viral.