Fire partially damages traditional Chinese medicine shop
SARIKEI: A fire partially damaged a traditional Chinese medicine shop at Repok Road here yesterday.
Sarikei Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) chief Mahmudin Narudin said a member of the public, who noticed smoke billowing from the front of the shop located next to The Borneo Post office, filed a report at 2.04am.
Firefighters in one fire engine led by senior fire officer II Bakar Ujang were dispatched to the scene.
Mahmudin said upon reaching the shop, firefighters were forced to cut the padlocks to gain entry through the front entrance.
With water from a fire hydrant located just behind the shop, firefighters took about 40 minutes to get the fire under control, he said.
He added that by that time, the fire, which started from the back portion of the shop, had spread to about 40 per cent of the unit.
Firefighters called off the operation at 3.46am, but rushed to the scene again at around 4am after a member of the public noticed sparks and smoke coming from the back portion of the shop. The actual cause of the fire or total losses involved are still under investigation.