SARATOK, April 27 — Two blocks of teachers’ quarters at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Perpat were completely destroyed in a fire early this afternoon, causing shock among local residents but thankfully no injuries were reported.
The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department’s Operations Centre (PGO) confirmed receiving an emergency call at around 12.50pm. In response, 11 firemen from Saratok Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) led by Senior Fire Officer II Abdul Rahman Sabi were immediately deployed to the scene.
Upon arrival, the operations commander found that both blocks — which served as temporary accommodation for teachers — were already 100 percent destroyed by the fire.
Initial investigations revealed that one of the blocks, consisting of two residential doors, was unoccupied and found empty at the time of the incident. The second block, also with two doors, was inhabited, but the occupants were fortunately not at home when the fire broke out.
“In total, four residential doors were involved in the fire,” the department said in a statement to the media.
To fight the flames, the Operations Release Team (PKO) stretched a 200-foot hose line using a nozzle to tap water from a nearby ditch. However, the operation was not without its challenges. Narrow road conditions prevented fire engines from reaching the scene directly, forcing firemen to transfer their firefighting equipment using a four-wheel-drive Toyota Hilux.
The fire was successfully brought under control, and thorough cleanup work was conducted to eliminate any remaining embers to prevent re-ignition.
“No injuries or fatalities were reported in this incident. The total losses are still under investigation,” PGO added.
The entire operation was officially declared over at 3.00pm.
This incident highlights the ongoing need for better infrastructure access, especially in rural areas, to ensure quicker emergency response in the future.
