MIRI: A late-night fire has destroyed much of a village church in Sibuti, Miri Division, in an incident that fortunately claimed no lives.
The blaze broke out at the Borneo Evangelical Mission (Sidang Injil Borneo) Church in Sungai Bakas just before midnight on Tuesday (Sept 2). A distressed resident, made the emergency call at 11.52 pm.
Firefighters from Batu Niah station were dispatched almost immediately, but with the church located some 50 kilometres away, it took nearly 45 minutes for the first engine to arrive at the scene.
By then, the two-storey semi-permanent building, measuring 40 by 20 feet, was already engulfed in flames.
According to the Fire and Rescue Department, about 80 per cent of the church was destroyed.
A team of six firefighters, led by PBK I Awang Azdwan, began operations at 12.40 am, working alongside three police officers and several members of the public who were already at the site.
Their efforts were hampered by low water pressure from the fire hydrant, forcing them to draw water from a nearby river.
Despite the challenges, the fire was brought under control within ten minutes and completely extinguished by 2.33 am.
SESCO staff were also called in to cut power supply to the area as a precaution.
Batu Niah Fire Station chief PBT II Rary Binjie confirmed that no one was injured in the incident.
The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.
