SIBU: Rumah Andrew Lawai in Pakan, Sarikei Division turned to ashes despite efforts to save it Tuesday night.
Sarikei Fire and Rescue station received a distress call at 8.30pm and immediately rushed its personnel to the scene.
According to a statement from the State Fire and Rescue Department, the 18 firemen from Bintangor and Sarikei stations were forced to pump water from a fire hydrant that was 500 metres away from the longhouse.
The statement said much time and energy were spent laboriously pumping water from such a distance to supply the fire engines before the fire engines could rush to the fire scene.
The longhouse was burning like tinder and there was very little firefighters could do to save the seven-door longhouse.
The fire was brought under control 40 minutes later but by then the longhouse was completely burnt down.
The statement said the victims were being temporarily housed at Meradong and Julau community halls.
Meanwhile, the department statistics showed that from January 1 to September 3 this year, a total of 14 longhouse fires were reported statewide.
The fires affected 181 of a total of 341 doors. Total loss reported was RM10. 1 million while property saved was worth RM13 million.
“Eight of the fires were caused by cooking activities, four due to short-circuit while two others are still under investigation,” it said, adding from all these fires, one death and four injuries were recorded.
