The Star/Asia News Network
Tuesday, Nov 06, 2012
KOTA BARU - The lack of water in fire hydrants is an issue for state governments to resolve, said Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Chor Chee Heung.
He was commenting on the lack of hydrants that was said to have hampered the work of firemen fighting a blaze at a factory at the Pengkalan Chepa industrial site near here on Sunday.
"This is the responsibility of the state government but, in any case, I will look into it, especially when the area is an industrial zone," he said after visiting three critically-injured firemen at the Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital here yesterday.
Two others are warded at the Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital in Kubang Kerian near here.
The five, who were among 29 firemen at the scene, suffered third-degree burns while fighting the fire in four tanks containing motor oil for dyeing used tyres.
The situation got out of control when two of the tanks started leaking huge amounts of boiling motor oil, leading to explosions that caused the firemen to catch fire.
"For the firemen, it is an occupational hazard. Therefore, the element of risk is always there.
"But on the whole, I am certain all safety precautions and procedures were adhered to when they tried to put the fire out."
He said the firemen were all well-trained to face adverse situations.
"If they were not properly trained, they would not have gone into the danger zone," he said.
He thanked the firemen and advised the families of the injured firefighters to be patient as the Government would give them full medical treatment until they recovered.
The five critically-injured men are senior fire and rescue services officer (I) Abdullah Din Mohamad, 55; senior fire and rescue services officer (II), Nazah Napi, 43; Abdul Razak Abdullah, 45; Wan Asri Wan Yaakob, 52; and Zulkifli Mahmud, 40.
