Fire Destroys Civil Defence Office.

From NST Online:
http://johor.nst.com.my/Current_News/JohorBuzz/Tuesday/Stories/2600629/Article/index_html

Fire destroys civil defence office

Rizalman Hammim

2009/07/07

THE Civil Defence Department (JPA3) in Batu Pahat has been forced to move its operations after fire gutted the department’s office near the Batu Pahat Golf Club yesterday.

The office and ambulance of the Batu Pahat Civil Defence Department that was razed.

The fire, which started around 6am, also destroyed an ambulance. Johor JPA3 deputy director Captain Mohd Fariz Mohd Yusof said all operations will be based in Kluang while the department waits for a new office.

“In case of an emergency in Batu Pahat, personnel from Johor Baru, Muar and Kluang will be involved as almost all of the rescue equipment kept at the Batu Pahat office were destroyed. However, this will not affect the efficiency of our operations,” said Fariz.

A Fire and Rescue Department spokesman said the department received an emergency call at 6.17am and two fire engines with 28 firemen from the Jalan Mohd Khalid and Jalan Timah Sari fire stations were dispatched.

He said the firemen took about 30 minutes to put out the fire and an investigation is underway to identify the cause. No injuries were reported.

The JPA3 office was formerly a government quarters built during colonial times. It had occupied the building since 1995.

Besides JPA3, the offices of the General Operations Force and the Territorial Army are also located in similar buildings nearby, which are believed to be around 60 years old.