KENINGAU: A concrete house at Kota Ayangan road in front of the forestry staff quarters here was destroyed by fire around 3.20pm yesterday.
The owner, Michael Majungal and his wife, Maria Kuntiou, were away in Tambunan when the fire broke out which also destroyed a new four-wheel drive double cab vehicle.
According to a neighbour, Michael who is a retired police sergeant and his wife were in Tambunan to attend a prayer ceremony.
Michael’s daughter and his son-in-law had left the house to take their child from school.
District Fire and Rescue Department chief Janil Jaya when met at the scene, said a call was received at 3.22pm and 12 firemen in three engines arrived at the scene at 3.26pm.
They faced difficulties controlling the fire because the nearby fire hydrant was not functioning.
Janil believed the hydrant was vandalised.
However, he said the department with assistance from the police to control the traffic, managed to put out the fire completely by 6pm.
“The most challenging part of our job was to control the fire from spreading to a bungalow which is still under construction and a house next to the burning one,” he said.
Janil added the cause of the fire and damage were still being investigated.