KUCHING, March 14: A 70-year-old man sustained burn injuries after a devastating fire destroyed his wooden house at Jalan Surau, Kampung Hilir, Sri Aman this afternoon.
The victim, identified as Mohamed Idi, suffered 12 per cent burns, as confirmed by the Sri Aman Health Department (KKM). Members of the public quickly transported him to the hospital before the firefighting team arrived.
According to the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba), they received a distress call at 12.38pm and immediately dispatched seven personnel from the Sri Aman Fire Station (BBP). The team arrived at the scene within five minutes but found the 20×40 square foot wooden structure fully consumed by flames.
Firefighters, equipped with full protective gear, quickly deployed a 400-foot hose with two nozzles, using water from a nearby hydrant to battle the raging fire.
The operation to control the fire faced difficulties due to heavy traffic during peak hours. However, firefighters managed to bring the fire under control by 1.10pm and fully extinguished it by 1.16pm.
Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the fire and estimating the losses incurred. The incident serves as a reminder of the dangers of house fires, especially in wooden structures, which are highly flammable.
Residents are urged to take extra precautions, such as installing smoke detectors and avoiding overloading electrical sockets, to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
