KOTA KINABALU: Firemen who put out the fire in Kampung Bahagia, Sandakan, that left about 9,000 people homeless and destroyed more than 1,000 wooden homes in the early hours of Sunday, were met with insults when they arrived at the scene.
Sandakan Fire Station chief Jimmy Lagung said fewer than 50 firefighters from the Sandakan and Kinabatangan fire stations, along with volunteer firefighters from Karamunting, responded to the fire. He said crews arrived about 15 minutes after they received the distress call and took about 10 hours to bring the fire under control.
However, videos surfaced online showing people at the scene shouting at firefighters and telling them to go home.
“Emotions run high during such incidents, and we understand. That is why we don’t take their words to heart, especially because often, some of them will come back and thank us once we have completed our duties,” he said on Tuesday (April 21)
Lagung said crews also faced limited water sources, narrow walkways and collapsing paths during the operation. He said people were running through the area, and firefighters had to avoid collisions while watching for trapped victims.
Lagung said the department brought the fire under control at 8.43am and ended operations at about noon. He said no one died in the fire, although some people suffered injuries.
The report said that as of Tuesday afternoon, 1,048 people from 224 families remained at eight relief centres in Sandakan. The report also said government aid and donations from non-government groups and individuals had started to reach those displaced by the fire.
Government aid, as well as donations from non-government organisations and individuals, have started to come in for the displaced victims.
Those wishing to contribute are encouraged to do so via the appropriate channels, sending their used clothes, food, and other essentials directly to shelters or mosques for proper distribution.
