MIRI: A family of six escaped unharmed after a fire destroyed their wooden home in Kampung Sealine, Lutong, within minutes on Thursday (Apr 23) evening, firefighters said.
The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department said crews from the Lutong station were alerted at 7.48pm and arrived at the scene five minutes later to find the single-storey house already fully ablaze.
The structure, measuring about 15 by 10 feet and built from non-permanent materials, was almost entirely consumed by the time firefighters began operations.
Operations commander Henry Jugah led a team of seven firefighters, deploying a 200-foot hose line and drawing water from an open source to bring the flames under control.
Firefighters went into action at 7.54pm, containing the blaze by 8.15pm and remaining on site to secure the area before returning to the station later that evening.
All six occupants managed to get out safely. They included two adult men, two adult women and two children. No injuries were reported.
Firefighters said the rapid spread of the fire was consistent with the type of construction, with timber and lightweight materials allowing flames to engulf the house quickly.
Homes of this nature are common in parts of Lutong and are known to be particularly vulnerable once a fire takes hold.
Police officers were also at the scene to assist, while no other agencies were involved.
The cause of the fire has not yet been established. Investigators are expected to carry out further assessment, including examining possible electrical or domestic sources.
The incident adds to a pattern of residential fires in semi-urban settlements where housing density, building materials and access constraints can complicate emergency response.
For the affected family, the loss was total. Within less than half an hour, their home was reduced to ashes, a reminder of how quickly such fires can escalate even when lives are spared.
