15 Tawau houses gutted by fire

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TAWAU: Fifteen terrace houses in Taman Semarak were gutted by fire yesterday, leaving about 50 people homeless.

Firefighters battling the blaze from the back of the houses.

No casualties were reported in the fire which brought out around 11am and was completely put out by 2.40pm, according to a spokesman for the Fire and Rescue Department.

He said the firefighters had to pump water from a sewerage pond as the hydrant in front of the fire-hit row of houses was buried.

He said 20 firefighters were sent to the scene in three fire engines and utility vehicles after a distress call was received at 11.54am.

They brought the fire under control by 1.01pm and put it out at 2.40pm.

Former Merotai assemblyman Tan Sri Liew Yun Fah who was at the scene expressed disappointnment at the condition of the hydrant, saying that the residents should have helped look after it.

He said he will hold a meeting with the residents there to discuss the matter, as more houses could have been saved if the hydrant was accessible and working.

Only the top of the hydrant could be seen and because of the soil, the hydrant’s valve could not be reached, he said.

It could be due to earth being dumped there after renovations were done at some of the houses, and it had cost them dearly, he said.

Meanwhile, Liew contributed 30 boxes of mineral water and food to the victims, which were distributed by Gerakan Tawau Youth.