Location

: Nilai, Negeri Sembilan,

Malaysia.

Date

: 19 February 2011

How the
Fire happen

: The fire started on the

ground floor before it
swept through the fourstorey building. Fire
engulfed the oil
separation section of a
Palm Oil Factory in the
Nilai Utama Industrial
Area here this morning.

Developer

: Palm Oil Factory in the

Nilai Utama Industrial
Area.

Owner

: EcoOils Processors Sdn

Bhd.

No. of Workers Injured

: Five workers were

injured, two of them
injured seriously and
were taken to the
Tuanku Jaafar Hospital
in Seremban while three
others were treated at a
nearby clinic.

THE PICTURE OF THE FIRE INCIDENT

CAUSES OF THE FIRE ACCIDENT

The fire, which was said to be due to a fuel fluid pipe leakage, razed through a fourstorey building which housed the oil separation section of EcoOils Processors Sdn Bhd.

FIRE PREVENTIVE MEASUREMENT BY THE SOCIETY

1. Brought the fire under control by 33 Fire-fighters from Nilai at 9.45 am and put it out
at 11.25 am, that prevent it from spreading to the main building.
2. Plugging a leak in the pipe as it carries an inflammable and corrosive fluid called nhexane.
3. They will start a cooling process by spraying 15 barrels of foam on the tank.

FIRE SAFETY ATTRIBUTES

The safety of the commercial building is not only the responsibility of the developers
who build the buildings, but it also involve with many parties to ensure that the building is
safe for occupy. From the regulations passed in parliament, enforcement by the local
authority and the shop tenants themselves have the play the role to ensure that fire safety
aspects are always maintained at the highest possible standard. In this regard, there are
nine points of fire attributes in commercial buildings that need to be evaluated further to the
greater extent that the best protection and fire safety objectives can be achieved. The nine
points of fire safety attributes are:
1. Providing safe egress and protected zone for evacuation process.
2. Escape stairs design within the maximum travel distance permitted by authority.
3. An alternative exit route provided in the building for evacuation purposes.
4. All fire doors and fire barriers constructed are able to stand fire for a reasonable time.
5. A place of safety or assembly area is designated and able to cater for a number of
evacuees.
6. Illuminated exit signage sufficiently provided.
7. Portable fire extinguishers and other types of fire suppression are provided and well
maintained.
8. Smoke control systems in an enclosed escape route and escape stairs are
sufficiently designed and installed to ensure the safe egress route is free from
smoke.
9. Illumination system provided in escape route.

AWARENESS OF FIRE SAFETY TO THE COMMUNITY

1. Lead by Examples

a. One good way to help encourage neighbours to be concerned with fire safety
is to set a good example. If they see your house is complete with high quality
fire safety tools and equipment such as smoke detectors and fire
extinguishers, some of them would probably be motivated or encouraged to
get into the bandwagon of fire safety.
b. If they see that you practice fire drills regularly in your home, some of them
would eventually follow suit. If they learn that you educate your children about
fire preventive measures, some of them would probably do the same. Be a
good role model and lead by good example.

2. Get in touch with the Local Government

a. You can also contact the local government and request for them to organize a
program that pertains to increasing fire safety awareness in your
neighbourhood. Bring the matter to their concern by informing them about the
lack of awareness among your neighbours when it comes to fire safety.
b. If your local government is efficient, they will immediately respond to your
concern. They will start a campaign on fire safety awareness and you can do
your share by offering your services as a volunteer.
c. There are different kinds of things you can do as a volunteer. You can help
distribute campaign flyers that give information about fire safety. You can
design posters or banners for the campaign. Or you can organize programs
and classes on fire safety. Whatever kind of service you offer, whether it is big
or small, it is already a valuable help for the community.

3. Offer help to the Fire Department

a. Related to the previous tip, you can also offer your service to the fire
department in your local area. You can get into volunteer fire fighting and
undergo training as a fire fighter. If fire fighting is not your thing, there are
other tasks in the fire department that you can be of help with.

4. Join or Establish Fire Safety Organization

a. If there are fire safety organizations in your community, joining one will not
only enable you to help increase awareness in the neighbourhood but also
help you learn a good deal of information about this topic.
b. However, if you find that there is no such organization yet in your
neighbourhood, it can be a good idea to establish one. You can start by
rounding up some of your closest neighbours and share with them your
advocacy to increase fire safety awareness.
5. Organize Fire Safety Symposia and Discussions
a. If establishing an organization is too much work for you, you also have the
option to simply organize fire safety symposia and discussions within the
neighbourhood. Get reputable fire fighters and fire fighting experts as
speakers or instructors for the symposia or training.
b. Some of the things that a fire safety symposium can teach about include fire
preventive measures, proper operation and maintenance of fire fighting tools,
emergency preparedness, health and safety signs, and many others.
6. Communicate with your Neighbours
a. Word of mouth is one of the most effective vehicles of influence. Use this to
your advantage by constantly communicating with your neighbours about the
significance of fire safety, the many effective ways on how to prevent fire
accidents, and the things to do in case of fire.
b. Bring up these topics during casual conversations so it would be easier for
you to convince them to be concerned about fire safety. For example,
casually mention to your neighbour that you ordered wet chemical fire
extinguishers for your kitchen as these are the type of extinguishers that curb
Class F fires or those that originate from burning oil or deep fat fryers.
CONCLUSION
Increasing fire safety awareness within your community is not something that will
achieve overnight success. There will be challenges along the way such as people who will
not cooperate or lack of tools for fire safety training and education. You have to exercise
patience and be determined to achieve this worthy cause.

REFERENCES
1. Fire Education and Preventing, 24 July 2014
https://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1317842518699/1317842725065
2. Increase Fire Safety Awareness in your Community, 25 May 2011
http://bengriston.hubpages.com/hub/fireblanketsandextinguishers

3. Fire Safety For Commercial Building In Malaysia Business Essay

http://www.ukessays.com/essays/business/fire-safety-for-commercial-building-inmalaysia-business-essay.php#ixzz39dheioWQ
4. Fire Incidents in Malaysia
http://www.ifea.my/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=100&Itemid=110