TAWAU: A five-door terrace block, a house and four vehicles were completely destroyed in a fire near the Kg Kalabakan bridge here, Monday night.
Tawau Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) Chief Jemishin Ujin said his department received an emergency call at 7.03pm and dispatched a fire engine with four personnel to the scene.
He said the BBP Tawau team only arrived at the location, 91 kilometres away, at 8.57pm, while eight members of the Kalabakan Volunteer Fire Brigade (PBS) arrived earlier to carry out fire control operations.
“The fire involved a non-permanent five-door block measuring 150 feet by 30 feet and a residential house measuring 30 feet by 20 feet, both of which were 100 per cent destroyed.
“Also 100 per cent burnt were two cars and two motorcycles. Firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze using a 300-foot hose line with a single jet sourced from an open water supply, namely a nearby river,” he said when contacted on Tuesday.
Jemishin said his team faced communication challenges as the incident site lacked GIRN coverage as well as mobile phone reception.
However, the fire was successfully brought under control at 10.17pm and completely extinguished at 10.28pm after ensuring there were no further hazards at the scene.
He said no casualties were reported in the incident.
The operation was also assisted by other agencies, including the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM), the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), the Water Department and Rela.
