Firefighters and police carrying out investigation at the double-storey house in Tanjung Aru yesterday.
Siti (centre) thanking Nasil for saving her children, Misha (right) and Azizan (second right) after the incident.
KOTA KINABALU: A heroic act by one man saved the lives of a six-year-old girl and her little brother when the siblings’ double-storey house was gutted by fire at Tanjung Aru here yesterday.
Nasil Jaun, 25, was on his way to work when he heard screams for help from Misha and her three-year-old brother, Azizan, who were trapped inside their house around 2pm.
“I saw smoke coming out from the back of the house and heard a little girl calling for help.
“I immediately jumped over the house fence and try to open the door grill but it was locked.
“The smoke was so thick from inside the house that all I could see was a couple of little hands stuck out from the grill and waving for help,” he said when met at the scene yesterday.
Nasil said after several attempts, he managed to break the padlock of the door grill and immediately grabbed both children.
“I grabbed both of them and ran out from the house, as we reached the gate, several people came to our aid,” he said, adding that both children were brought to a neighbour’s house.
The children’s mother, who only wanted to be known as Siti, said she was shocked and immediately rushed home after being informed by neighbours.
“I am just glad that both my children are safe,” she said, adding that her daughter, Misha, was worried as she had left her school bag inside the house when the incident happened.
According to Siti, her father was taking care of her children and had gone to send another one of her children to school, leaving both Misha and Azizan at home.
“My father left them for just a couple of minutes and when he returned there was already black smoke coming out from the house,” she said, adding that her father sustained minor burns on his right hand as he tried to put out the fire.
Meanwhile, Fire and Rescue Services Department public relations officer Senior Assistant Superintendent Mohd Affendy Ramin said initial report showed that the fire started from the kitchen. Firefighters had managed to put the fire out several minutes after they were notified of the incident.
“No casualty was reported and we are still investigating the actual cause of the fire,” he said, adding that losses incurred were also under investigation.