Cops escape harm after patrol boat catches fire off Sandakan

KOTA KINABALU: Two policemen managed to escape when their patrol vessel caught fire close to the marine jetty in Sandakan district on Wednesday (Feb 22) morning.

The two marine policemen jumped on board another vessel that approached to assist.

According to Sandakan fire station chief Nor Azizi Che Noh, they received a call about at 9.49am.

“The patrol vessel was already about 70% destroyed when we arrived. Our men used the sea as a water source to put out the fire,” he said in a statement.

He said no one was injured.

Asked how the fire started, Nor Azizi said based on information received, the two marine policemen had just finished refuelling the vessel at the marine base at 9.15am.

“About 100m from the dock, they realised that the engine had caught fire,” he said, adding that another vessel close by then approached to help.

“The two marine policemen jumped into the other boat and escaped injury," he added.

He said firemen managed to bring the fire under control at around 10.15am and operations ceased at 10.50am.

He said the cause and cost of the fire are under investigation.