Sandakan Fire: Village Head’s Consistent Warnings Proven True

By Khatijah Jistoh

SANDAKAN, April 21 (Bernama) -- A village head’s consistent reminders on fire risks, repeatedly delivered to residents of Kampung Bahagia here, have proven to be well-founded following a devastating blaze that destroyed about 1,000 houses and affected more than 9,000 people on Sunday.

Residents said village head Sharif Hassim Sharif Titing had persistently warned them, especially during weekly Friday reminders, to remain vigilant when cooking and to ensure electricity supply is switched off before leaving their homes.

Most residents told Bernama the reminders were consistently delivered to raise awareness of fire hazards in the water village, but some admitted the advice had been taken lightly, which they believed may have led to the incident.

A resident, Rambu Julmute, 32, said the village head would remind them to be cautious when cooking and not to forget to turn off gas stoves, but some residents remained negligent.

“The village head always reminds residents to be careful when cooking and not to forget to turn off the gas. He is very good, but there are still some residents who are careless and take his advice lightly,” he told Bernama.

Rambu said the house he had lived in with his family for more than 30 years was destroyed in the incident.

“My sister and her child are staying at a temporary relief centre, while I am staying in a small hut at the fire site to look after belongings. Among the items destroyed were a boat with a 40hp engine, with losses estimated at more than RM30,000,” he said.

Another fire victim, Siti Patmah Maddam, 37, said the village head would spend time every Friday delivering reminders about fire risks at the village mosque.

“He often reminds us to be careful when cooking. Every week he reminds us that a major fire can occur if residents are negligent,” she said.

According to her, the reminders were not merely empty advice, as the fire was believed to have been caused by cooking activity involving rice.

Siti Patmah said upon being alerted of the incident, she and her husband immediately brought their six children, aged between nine months and six years, to an open area on land.

“No belongings could be saved, we only thought about the children. Thankfully, the bridge had not yet been destroyed by the fire at that time. We managed to reach land with our children,” she said.

For Siumrah Aplasin, 50, the massive fire should serve as a lesson not to ignore the advice given by the village head.

“From a single house fire, it spread and destroyed about 1,000 houses built over decades.

“Houses filled with memories and built through hard work and savings are now gone. We feel saddened and do not know how life will be without a home,” she said.

-- BERNAMA