A STAGE bus parked by the roadside near Kampung Parit Panjang here was almost completely destroyed in a fire on Wednesday morning, in an incident believed to have occurred while the driver had briefly stepped away to buy a drink.
The driver, a 58-year-old man, was understood to have stopped the bus on the road shoulder moments before the fire broke out.
Baling Fire and Rescue Station chief Assistant Superintendent Zulkhairi Mat Tanjil said the department received an emergency call regarding the blaze at 10.04am.
A team of seven firefighters from the Baling Fire and Rescue Station, led by Senior Fire Officer II Zulhelmi Bahari, was dispatched to the scene and arrived shortly afterwards.
“Upon arrival, the fire was already raging and firefighting operations were immediately carried out,” he said when contacted today.
“There were no passengers reported to be on board the bus. Initial findings indicate the fire started in the driver’s section before spreading rapidly, resulting in about 90 per cent of the bus being destroyed,” he added.
Zulkhairi said hot weather conditions and the age of the bus were believed to have contributed to the rapid spread of the flames.
The operation was supported by personnel from the Sik Fire and Rescue Station and the Kuala Pegang Volunteer Fire Brigade.
“At this stage, the cause of the fire and the total losses are still under investigation by the fire department. No casualties were reported,” he said, adding that the operation concluded at 11.53am.
Separately, Baling district police chief Superintendent Brandon Richard Joe said police received a report on the incident at about 10am.
He confirmed that the bus was completely engulfed by fire and that investigations were being carried out by the Fire and Rescue Department. - January 21, 2026
