KUCHING: An afternoon fire in kampong Tembawang Sauh very nearly burnt a house to the ground but for the quick action of firemen.
Four members of a family managed to escape to safety when they saw smoke billowing from an upper floor at about 12.40pm.
No one was injured in the fire, believed to be due to a short-circuit, but the occupants were unable to save anything as the flames burnt through the wooden structure fast.
Firefighters called to the scene doused the flame completely about an hour later.
About 70 per cent of the house was burnt.
At press time, the firemen were still investigating the cause of the fire and determining the losses incurred.