BALING: Another house has caught fire in Baling, this time in Kampung Charok Kapas, marking the eighth recorded fire incident in the district since Dec 24 last year.
District Fire and Rescue Station chief Mohd Jamil Mat Daud said fire engines were dispatched to the scene after receiving a distress call at 9.17pm.
"No victims were involved or harmed in the fire.
"Upon arrival, firefighters found a single-storey house engulfed in flames, with nearly 80 per cent of the structure destroyed. The fire was then brought under control," he said in a statement today.
The operation ended at 11.21pm, and the cause of the fire, along with the estimated losses, is still under investigation.
Baling has faced a string of suspected arson attacks, with police on the hunt for the culprit.
Over two weeks, an arsonist has targeted one shop lot, six houses, two cars, and 11 motorcycles across six villages.
It is unclear if the latest fire is linked to the same suspect, though the location aligns with previous attacks.
Earlier, Kedah Fire and Rescue Department assistant director Amran Jusoh confirmed only seven official reports have been lodged, hinting at potential unreported cases.
Baling police chief Superintendent Azmi Mokhtar said eight men, aged 25 to 35, had been detained to assist investigations, though none have confessed.
CCTV footage has captured some of the fires but authorities remain tight-lipped as inquiries proceed. Azmi dismissed speculation of supernatural involvement.
The case is being investigated under Section 427 of the Penal Code for mischief and causing damage, punishable by up to five years' imprisonment, a fine, or both.