KUCHING: Hope Place Kuching responded swiftly over the weekend to assist two families who lost their homes in a devastating fire at Siol Kandis here earlier in the week.
The blaze, which broke out around 3pm, was reportedly caused by faulty kitchen appliances and resulted in the complete destruction of both houses.
The families managed to salvage only their important documents before the flames engulfed their homes.
Firefighting efforts were hampered by accessibility issues, as the squatter area lacks direct road access.
Firefighters had to haul water hoses from the main road, and by the time they were operational, the houses were almost entirely consumed by fire. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the incident.
Kelvin Wan of Hope Place personally delivered food aid packages to Kartini Bolhi and Fatimah Atikah Othman, representatives of the affected families. The relief supplies included rice, dry noodles, biscuits, and malt drinks.
Recognising the extent of the losses, the NGO also provided essential household appliances, including stove tops, rice cookers, and electric kettles, along with school supplies for primary and secondary students.
This relief effort follows Hope Place’s busy start to the year, having distributed aid to eight flood relief centres (Pusat Perpindahan Sementara) around Kuching in early January.
The NGO continues to welcome fire and flood victims with valid police reports to receive free preloved clothing at their Kedai Bajet outlet.
Those seeking assistance or wishing to contribute can contact Hope Place or Persatuan Kebajikan Harapan Kuching (PKHK) at 082-505987 or 013-5672775. Donations are accepted via Maybank account 511289001160, and receipts are provided upon request. QR codes for Sarawak Pay and S PAY GLOBAL are available on the organisation’s Facebook page.
