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New Straits Times

Heroic firefighters made sure no one was left behind in gas blast [WATCH]

SUBANG JAYA: As flames from the Putra Heights gas explosion shot high into the sky, reaching temperatures of more than 1,000 degrees Celsius, firefighters worked tirelessly to make sure every resident was accounted for. "We went house to house to ensure everyone was evacuated," said Selangor Fire and Rescue Department deputy director, Khairul Azuwan Ibrahim. The scale of the disaster was clear to the first responders the moment they arrived. "It was the kind of massive fire we rarely encounter, especially so close to residential areas," he said, recalling how 22 fire engines and 111 personnel from 11 stations were mobilised to tackle the inferno. He said some residents were understandably in a state of panic, but firefighters did their best to calm them and bring them to safety. With the flames burning at over 1,000 degrees Celcius and producing twice the heat radiation of an ordinary blaze, conventional firefighting techniques were not an option. "In a gas fire, a direct attack is not advisable," Khairul explained. "The safest approach is to close the valves, secure the area and let the gas burn itself out." Although the main gas valves were shut off remotely from Segamat early on, gas trapped within an 18km stretch of the pipeline continued to fuel the fire. Firefighters worked through extreme conditions to contain the flames as the remaining gas burned away. Khairul said one firefighter was treated for dehydration as a result of the intense heat. He described the incident as "one of the worst" the department had ever faced, especially because it happened in a densely populated area. Support for victims Three months after the disaster, residents from the 227 affected homes are slowly picking up the pieces. Kota Kemuning assemblyman S. Preakas said relief has come from various sources, including the government, Petronas, and contributions from businesses and individuals. The state government has provided rental assistance of RM2,000, reviewed every three months to help families until their homes can be rebuilt. Preakas urged authorities to take the incident as a "wake-up call," stressing the need for stricter rules and enforcement to prevent developments near high-risk zones such as gas pipelines. "Moving forward, we have to avoid development near pipelines. This tragedy has set a precedent for better safety measures," he said. Previous Next