LIMBANG: Sixteen General Operations Force (GOF) personnel here who lost their homes to an early morning fire today (June 1) received immediate assistance from three groups.
The aid came from the GOF 12th Battalion’s Police Club, Tabung Surau Darul Ibadah and Persatuan Keluarga-Keluarga Polis (Perkep).
Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Aidi Ismail said that at the time of the fire, nine personnel were in the barracks while seven others were on duty taking part in Op Benteng Merapok, Bantuan Sabah-Sarawak Gas Pipeline (SSGP) Merarap and Op Benteng Ba’kelalan.
“The barracks were entirely made of wood except for the kitchen section which was of concrete cement, which caused the fire to spread quickly.
“The flames almost destroyed the entire Block S Barracks which has eight doors. In addition, four vehicles, comprising a car and three motorcycles were also destroyed,” he said.
However, no casualties or injuries were reported except for the loss of personal documents and property.
Aidi said the victims were temporarily housed in an empty barracks block in Company C.
The Social Welfare Department has been contacted to provide further assistance to the affected personnel.
Earlier, a spokesman for the Sarawak Fire Department operations centre said they received a distress call at 5.25am and despatched firefighters from Limbang station to the scene.
They managed to bring the fire under control at 6.35am.
The cause of the fire which destroyed the barracks block at Jalan Muhibah is yet to be ascertained.
