SIBU, 10 May 2025 – A massive fire broke out earlier today, completely destroying two semi-detached houses on Jalan Apollo Barat, shocking residents in the usually quiet neighbourhood.
The incident, which occurred around late morning, prompted an immediate response from the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) after they received an emergency call at 11.06am. Firefighters from both the Sungai Merah and Sibu Sentral stations were dispatched to the scene.
According to Sibu Zone JBPM chief, Andy Alie, both houses were already engulfed in flames when the rescue team arrived.
“Two double-storey semi-detached houses made of permanent structure were found on fire. The first house was nearly 90 percent destroyed, and a Toyota Innova parked nearby was also completely burned,” he said.
The second house did not fare much better, with 80 percent of its structure reportedly damaged.
The fire operation was made more difficult due to a large amount of furniture and the unexpected discovery of firecracker storage inside one of the homes, which contributed to the intensity and danger of the flames.
Despite the damage, all eight residents – four from each house – managed to escape unharmed. No injuries were reported.
Firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control and fully extinguished it by 1.44pm.
The cause of the fire is still being investigated, and authorities have not yet determined the total losses.
This is the second fire-related incident in Sibu this month, raising concerns about fire safety awareness among homeowners, especially those storing flammable items at home.
