The fire is approximately 40 per cent extinguished. - Pic courtesy of Fire and Rescue Dept.
The fire is approximately 40 per cent extinguished. - Pic courtesy of Fire and Rescue Dept.

ALOR STAR: The Fire and Rescue Department's Forensic Unit will be carrying out an investigation to determine the cause of fire that destroyed three recycling warehouses in Bukit Selambau yesterday evening.

Kedah Fire and Rescue Department senior fire officer I Wan Mohd Hamizi Wan Mohd Zin said that there is currently no additional information regarding the origin of the warehouse fire.

He said that aside from storing copper, metal, and wires as initially reported, the factory also stored large batteries.

"As of 8am today, we have yet to extinguish the flames. The forensic investigation result is still pending as operations continue.

"An Operations Control Centre had contacted the Hazardous Material special unit (Hazmat) has already been dispatched to the location for examination," he said when contacted today.

Meanwhile, Kuala Muda district police chief Zaidy Che Hassan confirmed that no casualties were involved in the fire.

Zaidy stated that initial investigations found that the warehouses had been processing alloy into aluminium extracted from used electronic items for about five months.

He also said that the warehouse's technician reported seeing a large fire in the factory area at 7.50pm yesterday.

He added that the fire department has not fully extinguished the fire, as piles of materials are still on fire.

"The fire department is waiting for an excavator to arrive and remove the burning materials. The fire is approximately 40 per cent extinguished," he added.

Earlier today, it was reported that Wan Mohd Hamizi said the fire involving three warehouses were brought under control at 10.02pm.

Earlier reports indicated that thick smoke and firework-like sparks filled the air after a factory caught fire in Bukit Selambau last night.

A 10-second video of the incident was also circulated on social media platforms.