NILAI: A potential explosion was diverted after a tanker caught fire at KM 284 of the North-South Highway (PLUS) here today.
Quick action by the Nilai Fire and Rescue Department however, saved the day.
In the 10am incident, a fire broke out on the trailer's head, forcing its 32-year-old driver to halt his journey from Klang to Malacca and park the vehicle by the roadside.
It was learnt that the driver had tried to put out the fire himself, before calling the Fire and Rescue Department for help.
Its chief operation officer, Mohd Fauzi Shamir said the department received an emergency call at 10.22am, and a fire engine and a seven-member team were dispatched to the scene.
“When we arrived, we found the trailer’s head had been damaged in the fire and immediate action was taken by the team to control the fire from spreading to the tanker, which was filled with kerosene,” he said.
Mohd Fauzi added, a team from Fire and Rescue Department’s Hazardous Material Team (HAZMAT) Seremban 2 station was also deployed to the scene to check on the kerosene spill, which was flammable.
“We managed to control the fire in 30 minutes. A delay could have caused a huge explosion,” he said.
