Penang fire and rescue department director Shoki Hamzah said they received a distress call at about 6pm and firefighters were rushed to the location, Bernama reported.

“The fire involved a warehouse that was built of wood and zinc, measuring 929 square metres. It spread quickly due to the building materials, and firefighters took half an hour to bring it under control and prevent further spread,” he was quoted as saying.

When contacted, Paya Terubong fire and rescue department operations commander Shakir Abdullah said the operation to extinguish the fire was completed at 9.30pm.

He also said that 80% of the warehouse was destroyed in the blaze.

“There was a single victim, a man aged about 65, who suffered burns on his arm,” he said.

He said that gas cylinders found in the warehouse could have caused the fire but added that a forensics team is scheduled to visit the site tomorrow to determine the exact cause.