Early morning blaze in Kg Riam Jaya leaves elderly couple homeless, husband suffers minor burns

MIRI (Nov 28): An early morning fire has destroyed a single-storey house in Kampung Riam Jaya here, displacing an elderly couple.

The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) operations centre said a distress call was received at 3.58am.

A team from the Miri fire station was despatched to the location about 6km away.

Firefighters from the Lopeng fire station were also sent to assist with the operation.

When firefighters arrived, they found the fire had already engulfed the house measuring approximately 40 by 60 square feet.

The Miri operations team carried out both defensive and offensive firefighting with one initial attack hose line, one 300-foot line with two nozzles, and one divider, using water supply sourced from the fire engine and hydrant.

Lopeng firefighters assisted by using two attack hose lines at the rear of the house to keep the blaze under control.

“The fire caused the male victim, 70, to suffer minor burns and he was taken by his child to a nearby hospital for further treatment.

“The female victim did not sustain any injury,” Bomba said in a statement.

The fire also destroyed three cars and three motorcycles.

After ensuring the fire was fully extinguished with no remaining sources of reignition, firefighters ended the operation at 5.58am.

The cause of the fire and total value of losses are still under investigation.