A family of seven in Perlis is homeless after a fire destroyed their house and all their Aidilfitri preparations just weeks before the festive season
KANGAR: A fire tore through a home in Kampung Sungang Padang, Simpang Empat, leaving seven family members homeless and destroying all their preparations for the upcoming Aidilfitri celebrations.
The blaze left 76-year-old Manis Salleh, her daughter Siti Hajar Hassan, 34, son-in-law Hasnul Hadi Yahya, 53, and their four grandchildren, aged two to 12, with nothing but the clothes on their backs.
Siti Hajar said she was cooking in the kitchen when smoke filled the house and darkness fell. She realised the flames had already taken hold when she opened the kitchen door.
“I saw the house dark and smoky, and when I opened the kitchen door, the flames were already towering. I shouted to my mother that the house was on fire, but it spread so fast we couldn’t save anything,” she told reporters at the scene.
She said strong winds likely caused the fire to engulf the house in about 10 minutes.
“Everything is gone, including the children’s school clothes and our Aidilfitri preparations. They keep asking about their outfits, but it’s all been destroyed,” she added.
Hasnul Hadi, a farmer, estimated the losses at RM70,000. This includes the house, a Proton Saga, three motorcycles, and all their daily essentials.
The family is now temporarily staying in a home owned by Sanglang assemblyman Mohd Shukri Ramli. They have also received initial aid from the Social Welfare Department and the state government.
Perlis Fire and Rescue Department director Wan Mohd Hamizi Wan Mohd Zin said they received the emergency call at 5.15 pm. Units from the Simpang Empat fire station arrived about three minutes later.
The fire was tackled by firefighters from Simpang Empat, Kuala Perlis, and Kangar stations, along with nearby volunteer teams. It was brought under control by 6.55 pm, and the operation wrapped up at 7.45 pm.
