Longhouse, vehicles razed in Ulu Baram fire

MIRI: A fire razed the Long Peluan longhouse settlement located deep in Ulu Baram in remote northern Sarawak early Friday.

Firemen from Marudi and Miri Bomba stations, who reached the site located 300km from here, saw flames still burning at 7.30am.

The fire destroyed the longhouse, leaving 19 families homeless.

Also destroyed in the fire were four-wheel drive vehicles.

Miri Fire and Rescue Department chief Supt Law Poh Kiong said an initial probe showed that the fire had started at about midnight.

“The site is almost near the Kalimantan border about 300km by timber road from Miri,” he added.

There were no fatalities in the incident.

The Bomba teams at the site are also helping to sort out temporary shelters for the victims.

Supt Law said Bomba had alerted the welfare authorities on the plight of the Long Peluan natives.