PASIR GUDANG: Firefighters are still battling a blaze at Kampung Pasir Putih, near here, more than 19 hours after it broke out last night.
No casualties have been reported.
Johor Fire and Rescue Department operation commander Nazarudin Yusof said the fire, which broke out at 10.04pm, had spread from an initial 50ft by 50ft area to nearly 1.4ha.
The blaze along Jalan Muhibbah is believed to have started when several men set fire to a pile of wood to recover scrap metal, before the flames spread to nearby fibreglass floats.
About 60 per cent of the affected area, equivalent to 0.836ha, had been extinguished, while 0.975ha was still burning, Nazarudin said in a statement today.
The operation was hampered by a lack of nearby water sources, forcing firefighters to make repeated trips to a hydrant about 3.5km away to refill their water tanks.
Crews also drew seawater from a nearby source to sustain the operation.
The fire had spread to a fibre-storage area where timber blocks were stacked up to 10ft high, prompting firefighters to divide the operation into front and rear sections to contain the blaze.
Firefighters from the Pasir Gudang and Johor Jaya stations, assisted by the Ulu Tiram Volunteer Fire Brigade, deployed multiple hose lines and water jets to tackle the fire.
The Pasir Gudang Municipal Council (MBPG) also deployed a backhoe and an excavator to move unburnt materials to safer locations and break up burnt materials, allowing firefighters to reach hotspots.
A total of 17 firefighters were involved, supported by 36 personnel from other agencies, including the Environment Department, MBPG, Civil Defence Force and SWM Environment.
Firefighting operations were continuing as crews worked to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading further.
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