KUCHING: Many longhouse fires started in the kitchen, and for this reason folk are reminded not to leave their cooking unattended.
Giving this reminder was Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Youth chief Datuk Snowdan Lawan when he visited fire victims of Rumah Lepong Gerang, a 26-door longhouse at Sg Sayat, Engkilili, Lubok Antu, yesterday.
“Don’t leave the kitchen unattended when you are cooking, not even for a short while,” said the Balai Ringin assemblyman.
Also in the delegation were PRS Women chief Datuk Seri Doris Brodie and other PRS members.
The longhouse was razed by fire believed due to unattended cooking at one of the kitchens in the longhouse.
Relating the incident, the longhouse chief Tuai Rumah Lepong said he used four fire extinguishers but the flame was too big and no sooner it was burning through the ceiling.
“Fanned by strong wind, the fire spread very fast and our longhouse was razed within a very short time.
“The situation worsened when the passage of water supply to our pipes was blocked.
“By the time the fire brigade came, there was almost nothing to salvage except the standing concrete posts and walls,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the 137 fire victims are presently putting up at St John Chapel nearby while some are with relatives and huts in their garden close to the razed longhouse.
During the visit, PRS Youth and Women Wings handed over RM20,000 in cash to the fire victims.
Snowdan hoped that the assistance would at least lighten the burden of the fire victims.
“The rebuilding of a new longhouse is also being looked into,” he said.
Also present were officials of the Welfare Ministry in Sri Aman.
