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The old Employees Provident Fund (EPF) building located at Jalan Gasing has caught fire again. Videos of flames and thick smoke emerging from the six-storey building next to the Federal Highway began circulating on social media at about 10.45am, today.&nbsp;
<img class="r48jcc pT0Scc iPVvYb" style="text-align: center; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/0327c8e4-epf-terbakar-jscreengrab-220523.jpg" alt="Old EPF building catches fire again | Free Malaysia Today (FMT)" width="513" height="320" aria-hidden="false" />
Prompt action by the valiant firemen ensured that the blaze, originating on the fourth and fifth floors, was successfully contained by 11.08am. Despite their commendable efforts, the incident had a significant impact on traffic, causing delays on both the Federal Highway and the Salak Expressway.
<img class="r48jcc pT0Scc iPVvYb" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://themalaysianreserve.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/FW1304984_KL22_22052023_KWSP_TERBAKAR-lpr.jpg" alt="Old EPF building in PJ catches fire again" width="527" height="351" aria-hidden="false" />
Assistant Operations Director Hafisham Mohd Noor of the Selangor Fire and Rescue Department suggested that the fire might have been triggered by renovation work being carried out within the building. Another possibility is the involvement of flammable cladding material used for the building's exterior, which is currently being demolished.
<img class="r48jcc pT0Scc iPVvYb" src="https://assets.nst.com.my/images/articles/Hafisham2012_1671513350.jpg" alt="Sweeper team continue search for nine missing victims of Batang Kali landslide outside 'ground zero'" width="463" height="332" aria-hidden="false" />
"We have taken immediate measures to secure the premises and launch a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire," stated Hafisham Mohd Noor.
He further added, "The fire most likely erupted due to the ongoing construction activities. There were no personnel present in the building, and no tasks requiring electricity or computers were underway."
According to a recent report, the EPF building was slated to reopen as a senior living facility under a 30-year lease signed by Pacific Senior Living Sdn Bhd. The company had planned to refurbish and repurpose the structure, with the aim of welcoming residents by late next year.
Despite this unfortunate setback, the focus now shifts towards assessing the extent of the damage and implementing the necessary measures to restore the historical landmark. Authorities are determined to ascertain the cause of the fire while ensuring the safety and security of the surrounding areas in the aftermath of this alarming incident.
Video being captured by drivers along the highway
<blockquote class="tiktok-embed" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@soimjenn.official/video/7235838905545657602" data-video-id="7235838905545657602">
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In 2018, a blaze destroyed about 40% of the building. It has been closed since then. Then, a spark caused during maintenance work ignited flammable cladding panels on the building's exterior.
Fire and Rescue Services Department deputy director-general Soiman Jahid said the fire started on the first floor of the six-floor Employment Provident Fund (EPF) building at Jalan Gasing in Selangor, as maintenance work was being carried out on the exterior of the building.
He confirmed that it was the first fire involving flammable cladding panels in Malaysia and that the incident was similar to the Grenfell Tower, London incident.&nbsp;
Hafisham said checks showed there was no damage to the building's structure.
He added the fire was put out in 10 minutes.
Aside from firefighters, 38 others from the police, Tenaga Nasional Bhd and the Petaling Jaya City Council were also involved in the operation.
What happened to the Grenfell Tower, London?
<img class="r48jcc pT0Scc iPVvYb" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/1267C/production/_96488357_tower_sequence.png" alt="How the tragedy unfolded at Grenfell Tower - BBC News" width="603" height="339" aria-hidden="false" />
On the 14th of June 2017, a devastating high-rise fire engulfed Grenfell Tower, a 24-storey residential block in North Kensington, West London. The fire began at 00:54 BST and raged for an agonizing 60 hours, resulting in the tragic loss of 72 lives, with two individuals passing away later in hospital. Over 70 people were injured, while 223 managed to escape.
<img class="r48jcc pT0Scc iPVvYb" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://s.abcnews.com/images/International/grenfell-tower-fire-london-rt-mem-171116_16x9_1600.jpg" alt="Grenfell Tower fire killed 71 people, police say - ABC News" width="457" height="257" aria-hidden="false" />
The fire originated from an electrical fault in a refrigerator located on the fourth floor. It quickly propagated up the exterior of the building, engulfing all residential floors in flames and smoke. The rapid spread was facilitated by the presence of highly combustible aluminium composite cladding and external insulation, which had an air gap between them that exacerbated the "stack effect."
In October 2019, the initial findings of the inquiry were released, shedding light on the events of that fateful night. The report confirmed that the building's exterior failed to meet regulations, serving as the primary cause for the rapid spread of the fire. Additionally, it highlighted that the fire service provided delayed advice to residents regarding evacuation, contributing to the severity of the tragedy.
*Sources: Visual and Reference Credits to Social Media, SAYS, NST &amp; various cross-references for context.
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Who’s going around setting buildings on fire?

300d896a3b2f5f1a22ad4a6e8e2ed63ca24512c9e0ff153a445f6b7312d917c6

 The Old Employees Provident Fund (EPF) Building Catches Fire Again After 5 Years

The Old Employees Provident Fund (EPF) Building Catches Fire Again After 5 Years

Who’s going around setting buildings on fire?

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