KUALA TERENGGANU: A wholesale and retail shop owner suffered losses of over half a million ringgit in a fire at Jalan Pulau Kambing here this morning.
Khoo Yok Kin, 79, who has been running the business with his wife, Cho Yu Liang, 80, and their children for the past 55 years, was informed about the fire by their domestic helper around 7am.
He said their helper, Suprihatun, 42, caught sight of the incident while having breakfast when she saw smoke billowing from one corner of the second floor of the shop building around 7am.
"Upon realising what was happening, our helper immediately took my wife and me downstairs, and her quick actions saved us from being trapped inside the building," he said.
Meanwhile, Suprihatun said she was boiling water when she noticed the smoke and initially thought it was coming from the kettle.
"When I checked, the kettle was still full of water, and that's when I realised the smoke was coming from elsewhere. I tried to extinguish it but failed.
"I quickly helped my employers get downstairs to safety as the second floor we were staying on was already filled with thick smoke," she said.
Khoo's son, Koh Peng Cheong, 47, said he was informed about the fire while sending his child to school after receiving a call from his mother.
"I rushed to the shop and saw the fire spreading rapidly. I tried to get to the second floor, but it was impossible.
"There was also a lot of stock because we replenish it daily, and the losses are estimated to exceed RM500,000, including all the goods that were destroyed in the fire," he said.
Meanwhile, Kuala Terengganu Fire and Rescue Station chief, Rozizah Abni Hajar, said they received a distress call at 7.06am.
She said the fire was brought under control within 20 minutes, with assistance from Jalan Kota and Marang fire and rescue station using four fire engines, one ladder truck, and a water tanker.
"A total of 50 officers and personnel were involved in extinguishing the fire, and we faced challenges due to the large amount of flammable food stock and essential items inside the premises," she said.