Melaka New Chinatown

13th. September 2002
 

Fire Destroyed 3 Pre-war Shop Houses at Jalan Bunga Raya

Three pre-war shop houses of at least 75 years old, were destroyed by a fire on 24th. August 2002. The fire started at about 9.30pm at No. 129, Jalan Bunga Raya - the shop house that sold plastic flowers and accessories.
 

Fire destroyed Pre-war shops
 
 
 
 
 
 

However, due to lack of water pressure at the fire hydrants, fire fighters were unable to control the fire which spread to adjacent shophouses at No.127 and No.131, Jalan Bunga Raya.
 

At the height of the fire, residents of neighbouring shophouses were worried that the fire will affect the entire block of pre-war shophouses. Luckily, water was pumped from the Malacca River located near Jalan Bunga Raya and the fire-fighters were able to control the fire.

 
 
 This recent blaze was the second within a year at the Melaka New Chinatown area. Last year, another pre-war shop house which sold electrical goods, was destroyed at Jalan Munshi Abdullah - just a stone's throw from the recent fire.
In that fire, the shop was completely destroyed. The roof collapsed just like the one shown here.
 
 
Entire Roof destroyed by fire.
 
 
 
 
 

There are  lessons to be learnt here. Shopkeepers and residents living in heritage pre-war shophouses must undertake an audit of these buildings against fire outbreaks. Old electrical wiring must be changed and care must be taken not to install equipment that can cause overloading. Safety measures eg. fire sprinklers systems must be installed if there is storage of inflammable goods within the building. For the authorities, immediate remedial action must be taken to rectify the low water pressure at the fire hydrants and also draw up a comprehensive fire prevention guidelines for heritage building owners.

 
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