SEMPORNA: Some 26 squatter houses in Kampung Pinggir Bakau, here, were destroyed in a fire on Wednesday.
Semporna Fire and Rescue Station Chief Zainal Sinsian said a total of 37 firefighters from Semporna and Kunak were dispatched to the scene after they received a distress call at 11am.
He said low tide posed challenges to the firefighters in carrying out the extinguishing operation.
“The team carried out a firebreak by demolishing houses to prevent the flames from spreading.
They used a 1,300-foot stream with four sprouts supplied through a relay pumping system, a portable pump and two fire engines to carrying out the extinguishing operation.
“Water was sourced from a fire hydrant, and the Water Department was informed to provide further assistance due to water supply challenges in the area,” he said.
Zainal said the fire was brought under control at 11.58am and the operation ended at 2.35pm after the team made sure there was no other dangers at the scene.
