KOTA KINABALU: A disabled teenager was killed in a fire in Kota Marudu district early Wednesday (May 13), while his elder brother suffered burns while trying to rescue him.
In the 3am fire, 16-year-old Lorex Sindam was believed to have been trapped in the burning house at Kampung Torintidon, Jalan Kampung Lampada.
His 28-year-old brother, Razani, rushed into the burning house but had to retreat as the flames were too intense, suffering burns in the process.
Villagers who helped put out the fire rushed Razani to the hospital for treatment while waiting for firefighters to arrive.
Kota Marudu Fire Station chief Debli Mamoi said that upon receiving the distress call, a team of eight firemen rushed to the scene, about 22km away.
Their firetruck could travel only 14 km into the area, after which they had to switch to four-wheel-drive vehicles because the asphalt road ended and the journey to the village continued on a dirt road.
“When our team arrived at around 4.48am, the wooden house was already completely destroyed,” he said when contacted.
Debli said the victim’s charred remains were found inside the burnt structure as firemen carried out overhaul duties using villagers’ water pipes.
He explained that the injured brother had been taken to the hospital before the firemen arrived, and that the scene was difficult to reach due to weak, unstable telecommunications signals.
“Operations at the site ended at 6.53am after we eliminated all hazardous elements,” he said, adding that the cause of the fire is being investigated.
