Penang fire and rescue department deputy fire operations director John Sagun Francis said an emergency call was received at 1.54pm.

“Upon arrival, the team (from the Bukit Mertajam fire station) found that the fire had engulfed a pile of paper waste and cardboard in an open factory area spanning an estimated 3,716.12 sq m.

“The fire was brought under control at 3.36pm and extinguished 10 minutes later, but operations only wrapped up at 12.04am today after overhaul work confirmed that no hotspots remained,” he said in a statement today.

He said the fire damaged about 80% of the plant but that no worker injuries or fatalities were reported.

The operation also had support from the Sungai Bakap, Batu Kawan, and Bandar Perda fire stations, 11 volunteer fire brigades, and an excavator to break up the burning waste piles.