Bushfire razes wooden house at Kampung Rambai Bekenu
MIRI: A family of two lost their home when their house at Kampung Rambai Bekenu near here was razed to the ground on Thursday.
Miri Fire and Rescue Department chief Supt Law Poh Kiong said seven personnel from Miri Fire and Rescue Station led by senior fire officer II Abg Mohd Fadil were despatched to the scene following a distress call received at 7.13pm.
“Upon arrival, the operation commander reported that the incident involving a nonpermanent structure house measuring 20 by 50 feet was fully gutted,” said Law.
He said while waiting for firefighters to arrive, five members from Bekenu Volunteer Firefighting Unit had gone to the scene to help the family.
“The blaze was brought under control at 7.30pm and the fire was completely extinguished minutes later.
“The house was inhabited by a 54-year- old man and his 75-year- old mother who is unable to walk. They were living in a house under the government’s Housing Assistance Programme ( PBR) near Kampung Bekenu Asli.
Law added that no one was in the house during the incident. The victim was on his way back from work when he was informed about the fire.
Initial investigation revealed that the fire was caused by a bushfire which had spread to the victim’s house.
“This incident is very sad because uncontrolled bush fire had caused the loss of a home,” he said, adding that the total loss has yet to be ascertained.
According to a witness, there was smoke billowing from the burning peat soil behind the house around 1.40pm.