Solar station fire leaves 640 residents without power

MIRI: A total of 640 residents from 71 households in Kampung Long Tap were left without electricity after a fire ravaged a solar station in the village on Wednesday (Sept 11).

According to the Marudi Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba), the fire was reported at around 12.45pm on September 11.

Due to the remote location of the village, accessible only by logging road and boat, firefighters and investigators only managed to reach the scene the following day.

Upon their arrival, the solar station’s structure, measuring approximately 30 feet by 30 feet, was found completely destroyed.

The entire battery system of the solar generator was also burnt beyond repair.

The incident was first noticed by a local villager who spotted thick smoke outside a nearby house, shortly before the electricity supply was suddenly cut off.

Fortunately, no casualties were reported.

While the fire had already extinguished itself by the time the team arrived, the Marudi Fire Department assisted the Miri Zone Fire Investigation Division in gathering information from villagers and assessing the scene.

The cause of the fire and the total damages remain under investigation.

Firemen from Marudi were seen arriving at the scene to conduct an investigation.