MIRI: A pre-dawn blaze tore through a home in Kampung Riam Jaya today, leaving an elderly couple homeless and reducing six vehicles to burnt-out shells before firefighters contained the flames.
The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department received a distress call at 3.58 am. Engines from Miri and Lopeng stations were mobilised immediately, with the first crew arriving at the property within minutes. By then, the single-storey house was already engulfed by flames.
Firefighters deployed multiple hose lines and drawing water from both the appliance tank and a nearby hydrant. The Lopeng team reinforced the operation from the rear of the structure to stop the fire from spreading further. The blaze was brought under control at 4.33 am and fully extinguished shortly before 6 am.
The homeowner, 70-year-old Azahari Din, sustained light burn injuries and was rushed to hospital by his son. His wife, 66-year-old Rohiah Mat Yasin, escaped unscathed but was visibly shaken as the couple watched their home collapse under the heat.
Three cars and three motorcycles were destroyed. Firemen managed to save another three vehicles and a small boat from being consumed.
Seventeen personnel and three firefighting units were deployed. Police and Sarawak Energy Berhad were also on site to secure the area.
