Latest news with #JohorFireandRescueDepartment
The Star
a day ago
- Business
- The Star
Johor highlights fire safety compliance
Mohd Jafni (centre) launching the fire safety seminar in Johor Baru. He is flanked by Ahmad Izram and Johor Fire and Rescue Department director Siti Rohani Nadir. — Courtesy pic Designated premises without valid certificate face action JOHOR has 2,288 designated premises that require a valid fire certificate (FC), making it the state with the highest number of such buildings. That figure was also expected to rise with the state's development, said Johor housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor. Designated premises are listed under categories that include data centres, hotels, factories, shopping centres, libraries, dormitories, places of assembly, and warehouses. 'The state government has received 42 data centre applications so far – 13 are currently in operation and there are strict safety guidelines in place, which includes fire safety compliance,' he said after launching a fire safety seminar in Johor Baru. On the surge in demand for data centres, which also raises fire safety concerns because of their heavy electricity and water usage, Mohd Jafni said those operating in Johor were mostly in the tier four category, meaning their water usage was at a 'minimum level' but with slightly higher electricity usage due to their water-cooling systems. He added that as the state continued to receive investment and develop, including under the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, the number of designated premises requiring an FC was expected to rise. Meanwhile, Fire and Rescue Department deputy director-general (operations) Datuk Ahmad Izram Osman said once FC enforcement starts in the first quarter of 2026, errant owners would be taken to court. 'Upon conviction, they could be fined up to RM50,000, jailed for five years or both, under Fire Services Act 1988 (Act 341).' There were currently 9,321 designated premises nationwide requiring an FC but only 5,881 had done so, he said. Ahmad Izram said his department was working to ensure compliance by end-2025, and would continue engaging with stakeholders to raise awareness and ensure compliance. Under Fire Services (Desig-nated Premises) (Amendment) Order 2020, premises requiring the fire certificate include office buildings with a height of 30m, congregation areas with a size of 2,000sq m and above, and hostels or dormitories that are 10 storeys or taller. To qualify, the premises must appoint a fire safety manager and officers who will undergo a certain amount of training and inspections by the department. The certificate must be renewed annually.
The Star
3 days ago
- The Star
Couple nabbed over deadly Segamat blaze, allegedly hired by S'pore-based ah long for arson
JOHOR BARU: A couple, believed to be hired by a Singapore-based loan shark to commit arson, have been arrested for a house fire that killed a 72-year-old woman in Kampung Bukit Siput, Segamat, on July 25. Johor police chief Comm Ab Rahaman Arsad said the Segamat District Police Headquarters operations centre received an emergency call regarding a fire involving five houses at about 4.30am. "Investigations by the police and the Johor Fire and Rescue Department found elements of arson. "Johor police formed a special task force for the investigation and arrested the couple, a 21-year-old man and his 19-year-old girlfriend, in Subang Jaya, Selangor, a week after the incident. "Interrogations revealed that a loan shark syndicate in Singapore hired them to carry out criminal intimidation by setting fire to the house of a borrower who had failed to repay a loan," he said in a press conference at the Johor Police Contingent Headquarters on Wednesday (Aug 13). Ab Rahaman said the couple were further suspected of actively committing mischiefs in Johor and Selangor since July, receiving RM1,000 per job. "At the time of the incident, the victim was alone. She had never received any threat, and it is believed that the loan was taken out by a family member," he added. Four investigation papers were referred to the Johor State Legal Advisor's office and have since received instructions for prosecution. Ab Rahaman added that the male suspect will be charged at the Segamat Magistrate's Court tomorrow with nine charges under Section 304(b) of the Penal Code for causing death without intent, Section 436 for arson, and Section 507 for criminal intimidation. The female suspect was released on police bail and will serve as a prosecution witness. – Bernama
Barnama
3 days ago
- Barnama
Couple, Allegedly Hired By Loan Shark, Nabbed For Deadly Segamat Blaze
JOHOR BAHRU, Aug 13 (Bernama) -- A couple, believed to have been hired by a Singapore-based loan shark, were arrested for a house fire that killed a 72-year-old woman in Kampung Bukit Siput, Segamat on July 25. Johor police chief, Commissioner Ab Rahaman Arsad, said the Segamat District Police Headquarters operations centre received an emergency call regarding a fire involving five houses at about 4.30 am. "Investigations by the police and the Johor Fire and Rescue Department found elements of arson. "Johor police formed a special task force for the investigation and arrested the couple, a 21-year-old man and his 19-year-old girlfriend, in Subang Jaya, Selangor, a week after the incident. "Interrogation of both suspects revealed that an Ah Long (loan shark) syndicate in Singapore hired them to carry out criminal intimidation by setting fire to the house of a borrower who had failed to repay a loan," he said in a press conference at the Johor Police Contingent Headquarters here today. Ab Rahaman said investigations found that the couple were suspected of actively committing mischiefs in Johor and Selangor since July, receiving RM1,000 for each job. "At the time of the incident, the elderly woman was alone. She had never received any threat, and it is believed that the suspected loan was taken out by a family member of the victim," he said. He said four investigation papers had been referred to the Johor State Legal Advisor's office and received instructions for prosecution. Ab Rahaman added that the male suspect will be charged at the Segamat Magistrate's Court tomorrow with nine charges under Section 304(b) of the Penal Code for causing death without intent, Section 436 for arson, and Section 507 for criminal intimidation.
The Star
03-08-2025
- Climate
- The Star
Fire and Rescue Dept: 42 fire hotspots identified across 10 districts in Johor
Siti Rohani says Mersing recorded the highest number of hotspots followed by Muar and Kota Tinggi. THE hot and dry weather during this year's southwest monsoon in Johor will not be too extreme as there has been no significant influence from the El Nino or La Nina phenomena, says Johor Fire and Rescue Department. Its director Siti Rohani Nadir said peak season – between July and September – with prolonged dry weather, potentially increased the risk of forest and bush fires. 'Rainfall levels may dip slightly in August and September. 'The weather will be hotter and drier, with less rainfall compared to the previous northeast monsoon season.' She said 261 cases of open burning were recorded since the start of the southwest monsoon between May 10 and July 14, with most cases involving bush and rubbish fires. 'Of the 261 cases, 255 occurred in non-peat soil areas, while six involved peatland fires. 'The highest number of incidents were bush fires at 155 cases, followed by rubbish fires (76), plantation or farm fires (18) and woodpile fires (six),' added Siti Rohani. Peatland fires were more challenging to extinguish, she said, as embers remained underground for long periods and could take up to seven times longer to put out than regular fires. 'Major contributing factors include prolonged hot and dry weather and uncontrolled open-burning activities. 'However, the number of emergency calls we received from May to June this year increased to 108 cases, compared to 87 in the same period last year,' she added. Siti Rohani said 42 wildfire hotspots have been identified across 10 districts in Johor. 'Mersing recorded the highest number with eight hotspots, including Jalan Gunung Arong, Felda Tenggaroh 3 and 4, and Kampung Air Papan Tengah. 'This was followed by seven hotspots in Muar, five in Kota Tinggi and three in Batu Pahat. 'Pontian, Tangkak, Pengerang in Kota Tinggi, and Segamat also require close monitoring,' she added. Siti Rohani said the department was on full alert with 1,325 firemen and 34 fire stations operating 24 hours a day. 'We also have 28 volunteer firefighting teams comprising 576 members, 35 fire engines, 61 water pumps and an additional 17 newly deployed portable pumps for high-risk areas. 'We ensure all equipment is well-maintained, tested and fully operational,' she said. Siti Rohani added that frequent patrols would be carried out at identified hotspots as a preventive measure to safeguard the environment and local communities. 'Prolonged heat not only impacts health and the environment, but also raises the risk of open burning and haze.' She also advised the public not to carry out open burning of rubbish, vegetation or forest areas. 'The current hot and dry weather could cause fires to spread quickly, while reduced river water sources could hamper firefighting efforts. 'I also call on those responsible for managing waste collection or disposal centres to ensure no individuals take shortcuts by setting fire to dispose of their rubbish,' she said. Siti Rohani urged the public to report any fire to the fire department immediately.
New Straits Times
02-08-2025
- General
- New Straits Times
Fire destroys 3 pre-war shoplots in JB
JOHOR BARU: A fire gutted three pre-war shoplots, including a popular Indian restaurant, along Jalan Ungku Puan in the city centre here early today. At the time of this report, firefighting efforts were ongoing with an estimated 95 per cent destruction recorded across the affected buildings. No casualties have been reported so far. Johor Fire and Rescue Department operations commander Nordatul Badrol Abdul Rahman said the department received a distress call at 7.28am and the first team arrived at the scene seven minutes later. "Upon arrival, we confirmed that three two-storey shoplots were on fire," he said. Thirty-one personnel and multiple firefighting units from the Larkin, Tebrau and Kota Tinggi stations were deployed, including three fire engines, two emergency medical rescue service vehicles and one water tanker.
