Penang: The Penang Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) took more than seven hours to extinguish a fire involving solid waste at a former landfill site along Lebuh Sungai Pinang 2 here last night. Its assistant operations director John Sagun Francis, said the department received an emergency call at 7.19 pm, prompting a team from the Jalan Perak Fire and Rescue Station to be dispatched to the scene.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, upon arrival, firefighters found the blaze involved solid waste at the disused landfill site owned by the Penang Island City Council (MBPP). The affected area was estimated at 13.38 square metres and located about 24 metres above sea level.

'The operation commander conducted an initial assessment at the scene before carrying out firefighting and containment measures, including creating a fire break to prevent the flames from spreading,' he said in a statement today. He said the operation was assisted by an MBPP excavator, with the fire fully extinguished at 2.45 am. No casualties were reported and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.