KUCHING: A pre-dawn fire at Kampung Sourabaya Ulu here last Sunday morning left Mohd Napiah Abu Bakar and his family homeless.
Napiah and his family had been living in the house for almost 20 years.
Recalling the day of the fire, the 47-year-old father, who works as an auxiliary policeman at a public university in Kota Samarahan, said he heard screams and loud noises at about 6.30am.
“The fire started from my neighbour’s house, just two metres away from my house,” he alleged.
Napiah, who has a five-month-old baby, was grateful all his family members were safe during the fire.
“Currently, we are staying at my aunt’s place and one of my daughters is temporarily staying at her school’s boarding house.
“I accept this test from Allah. And I would like to thank the state government, Sabati and those who helped us during this tough time.
“I have been told that there will be a cleaning session with DBKU to build a temporary house for my family,” he said.
Meanwhile, another fire victim, Siti Aida Ismail, 45, who lived not far from Napiah’s house, said her family members immediately rushed out from the house when they heard screams and pleas for help by the neighbours.
“My daughter woke us up after she saw the fire raging from one house to another house.
“And then we saw thick smoke coming from our kitchen on the first floor.
“Fortunately, the firefighters were able to contain the fire before it spread to other parts of the house,” Siti Aida said, adding that her family was currently staying at their house since the fire only destroyed the first floor.
“We are thankful to receive welfare assistance from the state government, Sabati and other caring people.
“The donations will definitely help us to buy essentials to fix the house,” she added.
Napiah and Siti Aida were among the fire victims who received cash cheques from the Association of Wives of Ministers and Assistant Ministers Sarawak (Sabati).
The cheques were presented by Sabati’s president and chief minister’s wife Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tun Tuanku Bujang at the Sabati office at Wisma Sultan Tengah here on Monday.
Five houses in Kampung Sourabaya Ulu were damaged due to the fire last Sunday morning. The blaze affected 20 people from five families.
