Penang fire and rescue department assistant director (operations) John Sagun Francis said firefighters rushed to the scene after receiving an emergency call at 8.25pm. No casualties were reported.

“The blaze involved two adjoining double-storey factory units used for the production of health beverages and kitchen cabinets. Each unit covered an estimated 464.515 square metres.

“A workers’ hostel measuring about 55.74 square metres was also destroyed in the fire,” he said in a statement today.

All eight individuals in the factories and hostel escaped safely.

The fire was fully extinguished at 10.22pm, and the operation ended about two hours later.

A total of 30 firefighters from three fire and rescue stations were involved in the operation, assisted by over 100 members from 17 volunteer fire brigades.