KUCHING: Firefighters are monitoring the small underground gas fire in Simunjan.
Fire and Rescue Senior Officer II Fairus Jemain said the Simunjan fire station received a call about the fire at 10.56pm last Friday (Dec 29) and deployed a team to the site.
"We tried to extinguish the fire using foam, but the flames were only extinguished temporarily.
"We are now taking follow-up action to extinguish the fire," he said on Wednesday (Jan 3).
Firefighters putting out an underground gas fire in Simunjan on Wednesday (Jan 3). - ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star
Fairus said the fire was believed to have occurred where geological works had previously been carried out.
He said a police report had been lodged, so the relevant authorities were informed about the incident.
Videos of the fire have gone viral.
Fairus advised local villagers to stay away from the area for now as the fire is located by the side of a small road.
"The fire is not a threat. However, this is a shortcut for Kampung Keleka villagers to go to Simunjan, so they should avoid the road while action is taken," he said.
