JOHOR BARU: The Environment Department (DoE) has detected the presence of ammonia gas in Masai following a massive fire believed to have started at an oil storage facility.
State department director Dr Mohd Famey Yusoff said air quality monitoring, which began at 8pm on Saturday (June 21), showed no volatile organic compounds (VOC) at three locations: SK Seri Kota Puteri, the Fire Control Post in Masai, and Makmur Maju Logistics Sdn Bhd.
"While no VOCs were detected at any of the monitoring sites, ammonia gas was detected at the Fire Control Post.
“However, the gas level remains below the Acute Exposure Guideline Level (AEGL-2), meaning it does not pose any serious health risks,” he said in a statement.
He added that air quality monitoring would continue on Sunday (June 22) as a control and precautionary measure.
He said the AEGL readings are believed to be caused by the ongoing fire, which has yet to be fully extinguished, that started on Friday.
In the meantime, the Fire and Rescue Department said firefighting operations are ongoing at the site to fully extinguish the flames.
Earlier, a total of 34 firemen and nine fire engines were deployed to the Kota Puteri Industrial Area near Taman Megah Ria to tackle the massive fire.
Johor Fire and Rescue Department zone one assistant chief Rosfarawadi Ismani Ismail reportedly said the flames had spread to five premises, affecting an area of approximately 1,000 square metres.
