SUBANG JAYA - "I felt like I was on a battlefield."
That was how Assistant Fire Superintendent Muzdiean Haiza Muhamad described the tense and chaotic scene during the fire and massive gas pipeline explosion at Taman Putera Harmoni, Putra Heights, last Tuesday.
She said the explosion, which occurred at around 8.10am, not only caused extensive damage to property but also triggered panic as houses and trees in the neighbourhood were engulfed in flames within seconds.
The incident, she added, was one of the most challenging experiences in his 14-year career with the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia.
"When we arrived at the scene around 8.40am, it was complete chaos. The fire was still raging, and we could see victims injured and in pain.
"I was truly moved by the situation. It really felt like we were in a war zone,” she told Sinar at the scene.
Haiza said her team's main focus at that moment was to rescue as many trapped victims as possible while contending with extreme heat.
"It was an emotional mix. I imagined that were my own family, so I comforted them like I would my own relatives,” she said.
Haiza added that before the situation worsened, the fire department had issued an immediate evacuation order to residents in the red zone. However, some refused to leave, fearing the loss of their homes and valuable possessions.
"We had to gently persuade them, repeatedly assuring them that their lives were more important than anything else.
"If they didn’t evacuate immediately, the risk of death was extremely high. That area was dangerously hot. Even we were on the brink of death,” she said.
Speaking about the victims’ injuries, Haiza said in addition to a woman whose foot was severely burned to the point her skin stuck to the floor, several others were also injured.
"There were other victims who suffered serious burns, including from the waist down and one of them had a heart condition,” she explained.
Recalling the intense moments as they moved through the burning area, Haiza said the courage and determination of his team were driven by a deep sense of responsibility and humanity.
"Everyone was running out, but who was going to save those still trapped inside? That’s why we didn’t think twice. We went in because it’s our duty.
"My team and I managed to rescue over 40 victims from Taman Putera Harmoni. We followed standard fire department procedures—evacuating one by one in extremely high temperatures. Our phones even became disabled due to the heat,” she said.
Haiza described the operation as one of the most meaningful memories of his career as a firefighter.