TAWAU: A fire destroyed eight squatter houses at Kampung Hidayat, Jalan Apas, here on Monday morning.
The blaze, which also engulfed a Proton Wira, broke out around noon and was brought under control within 40 minutes by firefighters.
A 71-year-old man sustained burns to his hand and was rushed to Tawau Hospital for treatment.
Eighteen firefighters from the Tawau Fire and Rescue Station, assisted by volunteers from Titingan and the local community, prevented the flames from spreading to more than 350 nearby houses and a sawmill.
The operation, led by PBK I Mohd Yahya Abd Fatah, ended at 2.15pm after crews confirmed the area was safe.