JOHOR BARU: Firefighters have been battling a blaze at a rubbish disposal site along Jalan Muhibbah in Kampung Pasir Putih, Pasir Gudang, since Wednesday (Oct 14) night.
The fire has spread to a nearby fibre storage area containing stacks of buoy blocks about 3m (10ft) high.
The Johor Fire and Rescue Department received an emergency call at 10.04pm and the first engine arriving at the scene seven minutes later.
Operations commander Mohd Zuhdieyusni Said said the fire initially involved an open area measuring 15.2m by 15.2m (50ft by 50ft).
He added that firefighting efforts were hampered by a lack of nearby water sources, forcing firefighters to rely on seawater and draw from a hydrant several kilometres away.
"The nearest hydrant is about 3.5km from the location, so our personnel have to make repeated trips to refill the engine tanks," he said on Thursday (Oct 15), adding that the operation was still ongoing.
Firefighters initially used a hose reel and a 61m (200ft) hose line, supported by a portable pump drawing water from the nearby sea.
By 3.17am on Thursday, the fire had spread to an area measuring 46sq m (500sq ft) and reached a fibre storage area containing stacks of buoy blocks.
The firefighting operation was then divided in two to tackle the blaze from the front and rear of the affected area.
A total of 18 firefighters from the Pasir Gudang and Johor Jaya stations are involved in the operation.
No casualties have been reported.
