Fire destroys electronic waste and EV battery collection plant in Bukit Rambai, Melaka

An electronic waste and electric vehicle (EV) battery collection plant in Melaka was destroyed in a fire yesterday. The facility, located in the Bukit Rambai Industrial Area, caught fire at around 12.50 pm, Bernama reported.

According to the Melaka fire and rescue department (JBPM), it received a distress call at around 12.51 pm, and a fire rescue tender (FRT) vehicle, a water tanker and seven personnel from Tangga Batu was initially dispatched to the scene. By the time the first responders arrived at the scene at about 12.56 pm, about 90% of the facility – which collects and dismantles mobile and EV batteries for recycling – had been engulfed in flames.

Subsequently, four other fire stations assisted in the operation, deploying three FRTs, a water tanker, am emergency medical rescue services (EMRS) unit, an aerial ladder platform (ALP) vehicle and a hazardous and toxic materials (Hazmat) team. In all, 30 firefighters from five stations – Tangga Batu, Cheng, Melaka Tengah, Ayer Keroh and Alor Gajah – were involved in putting out the blaze.

Following the mishap, the senior state executive councillor for housing, local government, climate change, drainage and disaster management, Datuk Rais Yasin, said that he had instructed the relevant authorities, including the department of environment, to conduct a thorough inspection of the destroyed plant, including looking into its operating licence.

He said this was to ensure that the plant was operating legally, following safety procedures and complying with the stipulated regulations prior to the incident.

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