PUSA, 5 April 2025 – A family in Kampung Tengah Kalok, Pusa, is now left with nothing but the clothes on their backs after their home was completely destroyed in a fire this morning.
According to a statement from the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department’s Operations Centre (PGO), the incident occurred around 9.00am. Thankfully, all seven residents of the wooden house managed to escape before the fire engulfed the entire structure.
The Betong Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) was alerted at 9.08am by villagers who witnessed the fire rapidly spreading. A team of eight firefighters led by Senior Fire Officer I, Jusmandie Jamaie, was immediately dispatched to the scene.
“Upon arrival, we found that the fire had fully consumed the non-permanent house. It was already 100 percent burnt,” said the PGO spokesperson.
The team quickly began firefighting operations by stretching out 400 feet of hose, deploying two pump jets, and drawing water from a nearby river to battle the flames.
The fire was successfully controlled by 11.10am and the operation officially ended at 11.24am.
Although the family lost their entire home and belongings, no injuries or deaths were reported. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Villagers have since expressed their sympathy and are calling for urgent assistance to help the affected family get back on their feet. Local leaders and welfare agencies are expected to step in to provide support in the coming days.
This incident serves as a painful reminder of how quickly disaster can strike and the importance of community readiness and fire safety awareness in rural areas.
