Dennis: Build fire breakers in longhouses as safety features
ONG PALAI, Baram: An early morning fire razed eleven doors in a Kenyah settlement at Long Palai in the interior of Baram within 15 minutes on Nov 5 last year.
In the 2.30am incident, two doors of Block C were also affected, rendering 217 people homeless.
“The fire swiftly engulfed the wooden longhouse which lacked safety features such as fire breaker ( cement or brick wall) between the different doors, “disclosed the chief of Fire and Rescue Department, Marudi Station Maureen Sim Ah Lian during the distribution of financial assistance to the victims from Welfare Department Miri at Long Palai yesterday.
Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau presented the financial assistance as well as building materials, clothes including school uniform, books and stationery for students, bedding, cooking and dining utensils, assisted by two officers from Miri Welfare Department.
The assemblyman urged and suggested; “Don’t wait until a fire and rebuilding to fix the longhouse with safety features such as fire breaker. Add such safety features to existing longhouses.
“Get advice from Bomba on how and where to fix fire breakers. If you can afford the cost ... have them fixed between every door or between every four doors to prevent fire from spreading fast as such fire breaks could withstand fire for at least for two hours,” he added.
“When building or rebuilding longhouse get advice and guidance from Bomba for building plan,” said Dennis.
Dennis also advised every longhouse in the interior to form fire safety or voluntary fire fighter team, trained to help put out the fire at early stage and prevent it from spreading.
“Bomba will give you advice, training and guidance on fire prevention, techniques in fire fighting and basic equipment. It is important to form a squad due to location which is scattered, far and difficult for the Bomba to get to in emergencies. In most cases, the fire razed the entire house before Bomba could get there.
Each of the eleven families whose entire unit was totally burnt received assistance of RM5,000 for building material while the other two doors received RM1,250 and RM300 respectively according to damage of the unit.
The other financial assistance was given according to the number of family members.
Meanwhile, Dennis thanked individuals, non- governmental organisations, companies operating in the area and churches for rendering immediate assistance and relief in cash and kind to the victims after the incident.