KOTA KINABALU: Two people were killed and more than 660 were left homeless in two separate fires in Sabah.
In Likas, a massive fire tore through Kampung Cempaka, destroying 80 homes and leaving 669 people from 139 families homeless.
No casualties were reported in the 5.41am blaze yesterday, which spread rapidly across a 250sq m area, forcing residents to flee with only the clothes on their backs.
Lintas Fire Station chief Agustavia Joe Guasi said a team comprising 11 firemen, led by operations commander Saflan Safrie, responded to the emergency within 17 minutes.
They were assisted by 16 personnel from the Kota Kinabalu Fire Station as well as the police, Civil Defence Force, Sabah Electricity and the state Water Department.
“The fire involved closely packed squatter houses, making it difficult to contain,” she said.
Firefighters used multiple water sources, including a relay pumping system and water drawn from a nearby river, to battle the flames.
“Our priority was to ensure no lives were lost while preventing the fire from spreading further. Thankfully, there were no casualties,” she said.
The blaze was eventually brought under control, with efforts continuing to determine the cause.
Authorities are now working on relief efforts for the displaced.
In Penampang, two people died when a fire engulfed their home in Kampung Limbanak early yesterday.
Penampang Fire Station chief Zeno Tingalan said one of the victims, a woman, was electrocuted.
“According to an eyewitness, three residents were inside the house at the time. Medical officials confirmed the death of two victims.
“One victim succumbed to electrocution, while the other succumbed to burns within the house. The third victim is still missing, with search efforts ongoing in the surrounding area,” he said.
Tingalan added that the identities and relationships of the victims have yet to be determined.
After receiving a distress call at 3.26am, a team of 13, led by operations commander Callixtus Fedilis, went to the scene, which was about 5km from the station.
They were assisted by six firefighters from Putatan, two detection unit personnel, a sniffer dog named Pepper, 15 police officers, and two personnel each from the Malaysian Red Crescent, Sabah Electricity and the medical team.
“Our team arrived to find the semi-permanent house already engulfed in flames,” Tingalan stated.
Firefighters brought the blaze under control by 4.31am and the operation ended at 8.15am, he added.
