Husband, Wife Perish In Baram Estate Quarters Fire

SIBU, Jan 18 (Bernama) -- A husband and wife perished, while six others escaped unhurt after a fire destroyed a plantation workers' quarters at the Woodman Estate in Baram, Miri, early this morning.

A spokesman for the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Operations Centre identified the deceased as Berain Skam and Terit Lenjau, both 37, residing in Unit A of the quarters.

“The survivors, comprising five adults and one child who occupied Unit B, managed to escape the burning building in time.

“The semi-detached single-storey quarters measuring approximately 40 x 30 square feet was completely razed in the incident,” the spokesman said in a statement today.

The department received an emergency call at 5.59 am, following which a team from the Lopeng Fire and Rescue Station was dispatched to the scene, located about 40 kilometres from the station.

Before the firefighters arrived, plantation workers had initiated firefighting efforts and put out the blaze using 30 fire extinguishers and three water pumps.

“Upon arrival, firefighters conducted a final sweep and monitoring of the area to ensure the blaze was fully extinguished and there was no risk of a reignition.

“The bodies of the victims were subsequently handed over to the police for further action,” the spokesperson added.

The operation ended at 9.16 am.

-- BERNAMA