BINTULU: A total of 198 residents of Rumah Dunggat Gani at Sg Mas, located along Kuala Tatau Coastal Road, were made homeless after a fire razed their 29-door longhouse yesterday.
Dunggat Gani
The fire broke out when residents were preparing to go to work around 6.30am.
Bintulu Fire and Rescue Department, upon receiving the distress call at 6.39am immediately dispatched 20 fire fighters in one fire engine to the scene, led by senior officer II Simon Bida.
“The team arrived 20 minutes later as the location is quite far and managed to put out the flames at around 7.20am without facing any difficulties,” senior officer II Wan Ismail Wan Mustapha said when met at the scene.
He said the fire could have started from door number eight and might be caused by kerosene lamps.
Tuai Rumah Dunggat Gani was saddened by the disaster that destroyed all the belongings, valuables and important documents of the residents.
He said he just got out of bed and was about to brush his teeth when he heard people screaming ‘fire! fire!’
“I also heard a minor explosion coming from a room. Without delay, I ordered other residents to flee and save themselves,” said Dunggat.
The longhouse residents did not save any important documents, he added, as the fire was so intense and spread quickly.
“I cannot estimate the loss we suffered yet. We will wait for the department to finish with their investigations first,” he said.
When asked on their plan, the devastated Tuai Rumah said he would have to consult other residents first.
No casualty was reported and investigation is in progress to determine the actual cause and loss.