Advertisements
NIAH: A telecommunications tower at Kampung Iran, Suai, near Jalan Persisiran Pantai Miri-Bintulu, was partially destroyed in a fire that happened late last night.
The incident, which was reported at 11.09pm, caused around 50 per cent damage to the tower’s cables and electrical equipment. Quick action by firefighters prevented the fire from spreading further, saving the tower from complete destruction.
According to the Operations Centre (PGO) spokesperson from the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), a team from Batu Niah Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) immediately rushed to the scene after receiving the emergency call. The location was approximately 22 kilometres from the station, and the team arrived at 11.32pm.
Advertisements
When firefighters reached the scene, the fire had already burned half of the cables and some important electrical equipment on the tower. However, since the tower is located about 200 metres from the main road, the fire team faced a slight challenge in accessing the site quickly.
Fortunately, by the time they arrived, only small patches of fire were still visible on the tower. Firefighters swiftly extinguished the flames using two units of dry powder fire extinguishers carried by their machinery.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and no injuries were reported in the incident.
This incident highlights the importance of quick response times and the challenges faced by firefighters in reaching remote or difficult-to-access locations. The timely action of the Batu Niah fire team prevented the situation from becoming more severe, saving the telecommunications infrastructure from further damage.
Local authorities are urging nearby residents to stay alert and report any suspicious smoke or fire near important infrastructure like communication towers to prevent future incidents.