Fire breaks out at Datuk Keramat Market

KUALA LUMPUR: The Datuk Keramat market was partially destroyed again following a fire in the wee hours of Saturday morning.

Fire and Rescue Department operations commander Mohd Fahmi Abdul Rahim said the incident occurred at around 1.30am.

“We dispatched fire engines, emergency medical rescue services vehicles and rapid intervention motorcycles from Keramat, Hang Tuah, Wangsa Maju, Tun Razak and Setapak Fire Stations along with 47 personnel to the scene,” he said.

“We arrived at around 1.41am and saw huge flames engulfing the building,” he added in a statement on Saturday.

He said the incident involved an area that is approximately 80 feet-by-120 feet.

“At least half of the building was destroyed in the fire while a house next door was also damaged by the fire,” said Mohd Fahmi.

“We believe the fire spread quickly due to the wooden structure of the building,” he added.

Mohd Fahmi also said that they used offensive and defensive fire fighting techniques in order to control and put out the fire.

He said the fire was under control by 2.11am and no casualties were reported.

In March last year a fire destroyed at least 40 shops at the same market. The fire occurred at around 5.30pm on March 17 but did not involve casualties.