Fire renders eight people homeless
SARIKEI: Eight people from two families were made homeless after fire razed two houses to the ground and partly burnt another house in Kampung Jalan Pengiran Kadir here last Thursday night.
According to District Fire and Rescue Department ( Bomba) chief Suna Kaha, based on information gathered from the villagers, the fire started from a house belonging to two elderly siblings and spread quickly to another house about six feet in front as the houses were made of wood.
In response to a distress call received at 9.39pm, a team of fire men in one engine rushed to the scene, Suna said, with water sourced from the tank of the fire engine. Firemen took about one and half hours to put out the fire and prevented it from spreading to a nearby house.
Octogenarian Dayang Zainab Idris and her younger brother Awang Razali were both not at home when the fire broke out, according to the villagers. Zainab was attending a gathering in Bintangor and Razali was in a neighbour’s house.
The family of six who rented the house next door managed to rush out, but could not salvage their belongings.
Meanwhile, Assistant Minister of Town Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datu Len Talif Salleh who visited the victims yesterday gave immediate assistance to alleviate their hardship.
Also present was a representative from Tabung Baitulmal Sarawak ( TBS), Sarikei branch who presented cash assistance to the affected families.
Divisional Welfare Officer Tang Kee Lee who was also present handed the victims food items.
According to Tang, the fire victims would get other forms of assistance from the department such as mattress, utensil, clothes, school uniforms for students and building materials for the house owners.
The affected families are now staying with relatives.