KOTA BELUD: A fire destroyed 11 stilt houses in Kampung Buah Pandai here early this morning.
The emergency call was received at 4:09am and fire trucks arrived on the scene at 4.30am.
According to a statement from the Sabah Fire and Rescue Department, they travelled 20 kilometres to reach the coastal village.
The team managed to control the fire by 5.09 am.
"The fire involved non-permanent, stilt-based homes, spanning a total area of 1,627 square metres.
"Using a 200-foot hose line, we drew water from the fire engine tank and nearby seawater.
"We successfully saved 16 nearby homes, and the operation was completed at 6.15 am."
Other agencies involved in the response included the police and Sabah Electricity Board.
Meanwhile, in Semporna, an early morning fire broke out in the laboratory block of SMK Bugaya 1 here.
The fire, reported shortly after midnight, affected critical areas, including the ceiling, electrical room and server room.