GEORGE TOWN — A fire that erupted early Wednesday morning at a row of wooden workshops near the historic Chew Jetty prompted a large-scale response from volunteer firefighters and emergency personnel, who worked for hours to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to the adjacent heritage site.

The fire broke out shortly after midnight at premises along Pengkalan Weld and was reported to emergency services at 1:08 a.m. Firefighters arrived within minutes to find flames engulfing an automobile workshop, a car spray-painting shop, a furniture workshop, a printing shop, and a scrap yard. The incident damaged or destroyed five businesses and four vehicles parked at the site. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

A total of 143 volunteers from 18 volunteer fire brigades, including teams from as far as Valdor town on the mainland, joined forces with 25 personnel from the Penang Fire and Rescue Department to tackle the blaze. The fire was brought under control by just after 2 a.m., though operations extended into the late morning due to smoldering hotspots hidden beneath large timber stacks at the furniture workshop.

Assistant Director of Operations John Sagun Francis said the main challenge was reaching fire pockets beneath the timber piles. An excavator was deployed around midday to shift materials and allow firefighters to fully extinguish remaining embers.

Authorities confirmed that Chew Jetty itself, one of Penang’s oldest and most culturally significant Chinese clan jetties, remained unharmed. Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who inspected the site, assured the public that the wooden structures, known for their stilt houses and traditional walkways, were safe and suffered no damage.

Residents near the area expressed alarm as the fire threatened to spread. Some recalled waking to crackling sounds and observing intense flames only meters from the jetty. Efforts by residents to use fire hoses connected to the jetty proved ineffective due to the distance. Wind gusts between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. caused embers to drift toward homes, prompting residents to douse roofs with water amid fears of wider ignition.

Business owners at the scene reported significant losses. Datuk Leong Kah Fok, who operates an auto service center at the site, estimated his damages at approximately RM500,000, including destroyed vehicles and structural damage.

The affected businesses were reportedly operating under temporary occupation licences or land rental agreements managed by Chief Minister Incorporated, as the site is state government land. The government has pledged to assist with rebuilding efforts once the cause of the fire is investigated.

Local officials, including state executive councillor Lim Siew Khim, Tanjong MP Lim Hui Ying, and Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Wong Yuee Harng, also visited the area to assess the situation and offer support to those affected. Investigations into the fire’s cause are ongoing.