20160414 Brunei House lost in night fire, occupant escapes unharmed
Brunei Apr 14 2016 “Houses”
Dead : dead 0 or unknown Burnout : 1 to 29 Injured : injured 0 or unknown
House lost in night fire, occupant escapes unharmed
Updated: 2016-04-14
[Left] The interior of the house in the aftermath of the fire.
[Right] The house belonging to Kalsum binti Haji Japar in Kampong Keriam, Tutong. The cause of the fire is being investigated.
A SINGLE-storey wooden house in Kampong Keriam, Tutong was damaged in a fire late Tuesday evening.
The house belonged to Kalsum binti Haji Japar, the sole occupant, who escaped unhurt but was unable to save any of her belongings.
She suspected something was wrong when she heard cracking sounds while watching television in the living room at around 10.30pm.
Looking for the source of the sound, she saw thick smoke coming out from her bedroom. She remembered that her torchlight was being charged in her bedroom and she forgot to switch it off. She said she suspected that the fire might have been started from the torchlight.
According to her, she did not panicked and tried to put the fire out with water while calling “Allahuakbar”. However, the smoke became thicker and forced her to flee from the house and ask for help from her neighbours.
Kalsum lived in the house alone after the passing away of her father. She said the house was more than 60 years old.
She received food aid yesterday morning from the Community Development Department. Currently, she is staying with her younger brother, Haji Tahir bin Haji Japar in Kampong Keriam.
Kalsum hoped that she would be able to return to her home. Her brother said members of the family sometimes got together at the house and they had many fond memories of the home.
According to the information from the Tutong Fire Station, the Fire and Rescue Department received a distress call at around 10.37pm.
Two fire engines rushed to the scene, bringing 10 personnel who put the fire under control within 13 minutes. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Web Source: Borneo Bulletin
http://borneobulletin.com.bn/house-lost-in-night-fire-occupant-escapes-unharmed/