15 Jitra shophouses destroyed in 1am blaze

ALOR SETAR: A total of 15 shophouses in Jitra here were destroyed in an early blaze on Friday (Sept 29).

Kedah Fire and Rescue Department operations officer Mohd Bustan Karudin said no casualties were reported in the 1am fire.

“The state operations centre received a call from MERS 999 about the incident at 1.25am and firemen from the Jitra and Alor Setar fire stations were deployed to the location,” he said in a statement.

Mohd Bustan said the fire destroyed about 70% of the shophouses.

He said the firemen used water from Sungai Korok and the fire engines’ own supply to battle the blaze.

He added that the operation was also aided by 60 volunteer firemen from Ayer Hitam, Tunjang, Kilang Tebu, Seberang Nyonya, Simpang Empat, Padang Sera, Kundu, Kuala Kedah, Kampung Berjaya, Kota Sarang Semut, Mergong and Kodiang.

The operation ended at 3.20am.