JOHOR BARU: A fire on Jalan Waja 5, Taman Pandan here destroyed eight semi-permanent shop lots, including a motorcycle workshop that had been operating for 25 years.
The workshop owner, who wanted to be known only as Wong, 60, was stunned as he watched his source of livelihood go up in flames in the 5.10pm fire on Friday (July 11).
"I left the workshop around 3.30 pm. Not long after, someone called to tell me that the workshop was on fire. By the time I arrived, the flames were already raging. I couldn't save anything," he said, adding that three motorcycles belonging to customers were also destroyed.
"Everything's gone. I've been running this workshop for 25 years. I'm truly heartbroken," he said, adding that he has since contacted the affected customers.
Meanwhile, Johor Fire and Rescue Department operations commander Muhammad Syahhir Ikhwan Mohamad Shoib said five shop lots were 90% destroyed, two others suffered 70% damage, while one unit was 50% damaged, and a three cars were destroyed.
An emergency call came in at 5.10pm, and the first fire engine arrived at the scene seven minutes later, he said, adding that 31 firefighters from the Tebrau, Johor Jaya, Kempas and Larkin stations were involved in the operation, assisted by the Mount Austin and Ulu Tiram volunteer fire brigades.
"The fire broke out in a semi-permanent structure measuring 100 by 50 feet. Our efforts were hampered by low water pressure," he said, adding that no one was injured. – Bernama
