Telipok fire razes homes of 128 residents

KOTA KINABALU: A total of 128 residents lost their homes, after two rows of houses at the Telipok Scheme Settlement were destroyed in a fire today.

The blaze about 1pm was difficult to control as the houses were built close to one another.

A Sabah Fire and Rescue Department operations Centre spokesperson said that they received an emergency call around 1.19pm.

A 19-member team on two firefighting vehicles and two Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) vans were dispatched to the location.

"The fire had razed most of the houses, and it affected a 600 sq m area. Fire and Rescue personnel immediately took steps to control the fire while preventing it from further spreading to other houses.

"The fire destroyed two rows of houses comprising about 16 units in which 128 people from 17 families lived," said the spokesperson.

No casualties were reported and the fire was brought under control around 3.14pm.

He said the operation ended after the authorities ascertained that there is no other source that could spark a fire again.

He said the Fire and Rescue Department's Forensic Department will conduct investigations to identify the cause of the fire, as well as the total losses from the incident.