BINTULU: More than 160 residents escaped unharmed after a fire broke out at a 24-door longhouse in Jalan Ulu Sebauh here yesterday (Wednesday, July 15).
The incident occurred at around 5:00 pm, damaging three units occupied by 30 people and causing water damage to a fourth unit housing six residents.
No injuries or casualties were reported.
The Fire and Rescue Department (BOMBA) said the fire was already raging when firefighters arrived at Rumah Jangi Jambai, with flames engulfing Units 4, 5 and 6.
Firefighters from Bintulu and Kidurong stations mounted defensive firefighting operations and created a fire break to prevent the flames from spreading to the remaining units of the longhouse.
Unit 5 suffered the worst damage at about 50 per cent, while Unit 4 sustained 15 per cent damage.
Unit 6 sustained about five per cent damage, and Unit 7 sustained water damage during the firefighting operations.
The blaze was brought under control at 5:35 pm, after which firefighters carried out overhaul works to ensure there were no remaining hotspots that could reignite the fire.
Once the situation was deemed safe, the team ended the operations at 6:50 pm.
The cause of the fire and losses incurred are still under investigation.
