Johor Bahru Mall Fire: 4WD Vehicle Believed Involved

JOHOR BAHRU, Oct 7 – A fire that broke out at the basement car park of a shopping mall in Johor Bahru on Tuesday afternoon is believed to have originated from a four-wheel-drive (4WD) vehicle, dismissing social media speculation linking the incident to an electric vehicle (EV).

Larkin Fire and Rescue Station chief Mohd Suhaimi Abdul Jamal said the department received an emergency distress call at 3:40 PM on October 6, 2026, with response units arriving at the scene six minutes later.

A joint force of 52 personnel was deployed to manage the blaze, involving firefighters from the Larkin, Tebrau, and Kempas stations, alongside the Ulu Tiram Volunteer Fire Brigade and the shopping mall’s internal Emergency Response Team (ERT).

“Of the 11 vehicles affected, eight sustained 80 to 90 per cent damage, two were damaged by 30 to 40 per cent, while another sustained about 10 per cent damage,” Mohd Suhaimi told reporters during a press conference at the scene on Tuesday.

Smoke Inhalation and Fire Safety Response

Four individuals, including a Singaporean national, suffered breathing difficulties due to smoke inhalation during the incident:

• Medical Treatment: First responders provided immediate medical assistance at the scene. One victim was subsequently transferred to Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA) for further medical care and is reported to be in stable condition.
• Fire Suppression: Firefighters utilized two 300-foot hose lines connected to the building’s fire protection system and fire engine pumps to contain the blaze amid heavy smoke.
• Safety Systems: Mohd Suhaimi commended the building’s operational smoke extraction and fire safety systems, which significantly aided fire suppression and investigation efforts.

Operational Status and Investigation

The shopping mall temporarily suspended operations following the blaze before reopening to the public at approximately 7:00 PM.

However, the basement car park facility remains cordoned off to allow the Fire and Rescue Department’s Forensics Unit to investigate the origin and cause of the fire, while assessing the total financial losses incurred.

Videos and photographs circulated on social media platforms earlier in the afternoon showing thick black smoke billowing from the basement structure as shoppers and personnel evacuated the building.

–NMT