Seventy people from 13 families were made homeless when their houses in Kampung Muhibbah in Kuala Baram were gutted in the early hours yesterday.

The fire which broke out at 2am destroyed all the 13 squatter houses but fortunately with no casualties.

Miri Zone 6 Fire and Rescue Station (Bomba) chief Supt Law Poh Kiong said Bomba Lopeng received the distress call at 2.09am and immediately dispatched a team of 10 men to the scene in a fire engine and water tanker.

Bomba Miri also sent a team of eight men in a fire engine.

“The firefighting team reached the scene located some 25km away from the stations at about 2.36am,” Law said.

Law said the firemen had a hard time in extinguishing the blaze due to the absence of fire hydrants in the area.

The fire-fighters ended operations at about 5.50am.

The fire was believed to have been caused by negligence as residents there relied on candles to light up their homes.

Most of the squatters work as fishermen and labourers at a nearby sawmill.

A one-stop centre had reportedly been set up at the village community hall for channelling of aid to the fire victims by the Social Welfare Department and NGOs.

Source:
courtesy of THE BORNEO POST

by Jenifer Laeng

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