HERITAGE shophouses in Penang’s George Town are vulnerable to fire, a risk that is heightened by the building owners’ attitude towards, in matters of fire safety. 

Two days in a row this week, several prewar shophouses had burned down in the Unesco-listed city famous for its tangible and intangible heritage.

George Town World Heritage Incorporated general manager Dr Ang Ming Chee said the adaptation of the buildings to maximise working and living space had increased the risk of fire.

She said some buildings were used to store highly inflammable items in closed rooms, some had exposed and badly maintained wiring, and some were not equipped to deal with a fire, lacking a warning system, smoke detectors and even fire extinguishers.

“George Town shophouses do have a few characteristics that reduce fire risks and prevent fire from spreading, but they have become vulnerable due to their adapted uses.

“The fire safety requirements of bomba (fire and rescue department), which building owners have to follow, are sufficient, but we have to increase our attentiveness to reduce fire risks,” she told The Malaysian Insight.

This afternoon, a fire broke out at a prewar shophouse on Lebuh Cintra, destroying the building and the roof of the next one, the fire department said.

Yesterday morning, a fire in a handicraft and antiques shop spread to other prewar shop houses on the same row on Jalan Penang. Three units were badly damaged.

Fires are common in prewar and old buildings in George Town. Two years ago, three heritage shop houses on Lebuh Penang went up in flames. Last year, eight shophouses on Jalan C.Y. Choy were razed.

All buildings, including heritage ones, are subject to the Fire Safety Act 1998. Works on buildings are subject to the local council’s approval and must abide by the Street, Drainage and Building Act, Uniform Building By-law, and the George Town Special Area Plan,  which also provide guidelines for fire safety and fire prevention requirements.

Ang said while having sufficient facilities like fire extinguishers and running drills was important, collective effort from the local communities was also crucial in a fire response.

“People who live or work in heritage buildings should also create evacuation routes for themselves in case of emergencies,” she said.

She admitted that public engagements to educate stakeholders on the benefits and importance of fire prevention had also been challenging.

With the recent incidents two days in a row, Ang, who was in Japan attending a Unesco training on disaster risk reduction, said GTWHI would try to do more to prevent fires in the heritage city, which threatened the tangible heritage properties.

While fires can happen due to different causes the Penang Fire and Rescue Department and the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) urge building owners to be more responsible in preventing fires.

State Fire and Rescue Department director Saadon Mokhtar said it was common for fire to break out in buildings with illegal extensions and wiring problems.

He said sparks and short circuit were the main causes of fires in Penang last year, with 116 out of 144 structures catching fire because of that. 

“The department has limited authority. We cannot enter private properties to check fire safety compliance unless there is a complaint.

“We only go into premises to run fire adits when the owner is applying for a business license. We check if the guidelines are followed, like having sufficient emergency exits and fire extinguishers.

“Usually, everything will be in order, as the building owner wants to get the licence. After that, it is another story,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

As the fire department does not issue licences or have enforcement powers, Saadon said his people could only give advice when necessary and raise awareness on fire safety. 

He said there may be weaknesses in the system, but the main issue was people’s awareness.

“It is more about having awareness. The people themselves have to take care of their premises and take fire preventive measures,” he said.

MBPP secretary Yew Tung Seang echoed the same view, urging building owners to be responsible for their own properties.

He said the onus was on owners to make sure their premises were properly maintained with the necessary done to prevent fires.

“The local authorities cannot be checking everything from the wiring to the doors and roofs…every property owner must be more responsible,” he said.

Yew agreed that a concerted effort was needed to reduce the risk of fire in heritage shophouses. – September 13, 2017.