KUCHING: Firefighters are monitoring the small underground gas fire in Simunjan.

       Fire and Rescue Senior Officer II Fairus Jemain said the Simunjan fire station received a call about the fire at 10.56pm last Friday (Dec 29) and deployed a team to the site.

       "We tried to extinguish the fire using foam, but the flames were only extinguished temporarily.

       "We are now taking follow-up action to extinguish the fire," he said on Wednesday (Jan 3).

       Firefighters putting out an underground gas fire in Simunjan on Wednesday (Jan 3). - ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star

       Fairus said the fire was believed to have occurred where geological works had previously been carried out.

       He said a police report had been lodged, so the relevant authorities were informed about the incident.

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       Videos of the fire have gone viral.

       Fairus advised local villagers to stay away from the area for now as the fire is located by the side of a small road.

       "The fire is not a threat. However, this is a shortcut for Kampung Keleka villagers to go to Simunjan, so they should avoid the road while action is taken," he said.