Reduced to ashes in less than 20 minutes
LONG PUAK, Baram: It takes less than 20 minutes for a fire to reduce an entire 30- door wooden longhouse to ashes.
Most longhouse fires in rural and interior areas in the state are devastating and traumatic for victims who lose everything within that short time.
State Fire and Rescue Department director Nor Hisham Mohamad made this disclosure at a Fire Safety Campaign and Fire Point at Long Puak in Baram Hilir.
From January to March this year, six longhouse fires have been recorded in the state causing an estimated RM2.25 million loss in property.
Out of the six cases, two occurred in Marudi. A total of 82 doors or ‘bilik’ were destroyed.
A total of 296 doors were razed in longhouse fires last year.
“We are facing difficulties and problems to reach fire sites due to locations which are scattered, isolated and far in the interior and rural areas. Apart from that, rural communities don’t have basic skills and knowledge including firefighting equipment,” said Nor Hisham who noted that many longhouses and kampung in Telang Usan and Baram have yet to form their own voluntary firefighting teams.
The director said the department would guide and assist them in training, knowledge and basic firefighting skills and equipment.
“The setting up of a voluntary team is crucial as they can be part of the initial response team in the event of a fire, while waiting for help to arrive,” he added.
“The team can help put out the fire and stop it from spreading while waiting for firemen to arrive,” he added.
The campaign jointly organised by Malaysia Fire and Rescue Department Sarawak and Sabah Sarawak Gas Pipeline (SSGP) was attended by villagers from Uma Akeh, Long Ikang, Long Banyok, Long Laput and Logan Sibong.
Chairman of Long Puak Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK), Pius Jau said Long Puak and five longhouses are interested to set up a team for each longhouse.
Nor Hisham welcomed the setting up of a voluntary firefighting team and assured them of assistance in training and knowledge as well as basic equipment such as fire extinguishers.
“I suggest that you do a collection at least once every month from ‘ bilik’ in the longhouse to buy fire extinguishers. This will be in addition to fire extinguishers given by the department and others,” he added.
Also present at the campaign were Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau, Zone 6 Miri Fire and Rescue Department chief Law Poh Kiong, SSGP operation unit head Suffian Sabeli and community leaders.