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Dream of Celebrating Aidilfitri in New Home Shattered by Fire
SIMANGGANG: A family’s long-awaited dream of celebrating Aidilfitri in their newly built home turned into a nightmare when their house was destroyed in a fire in Kampung Hilir Simanggang this afternoon.
The heartbreaking incident, which occurred at 12.30 pm, came as another heavy blow to the family, who had just lost a beloved family member more than 20 days ago. Fortunately, all occupants managed to escape unharmed, but their grief deepened as they were unable to salvage any belongings.
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Sahari Pon, 45, expressed his devastation when met by Utusan Sarawak. He had been tirelessly building the house since June last year, completing it little by little. Just days ago, he had finished installing the kitchen walls, hoping to celebrate Aidilfitri in the new home with his family.
“Since June last year, I have been completing this house bit by bit. A few days ago, I finally managed to install the kitchen walls. But now, our dream of celebrating Raya here has been crushed. Everything was destroyed in an instant,” he lamented.
Adding to his sorrow, Sahari recalled that just a few days before the fire, they had held a tahlil ceremony for his late mother-in-law.
Sahari recounted the terrifying moment he received the news. He was working in Batu Lintang, Undop, about 50 kilometres away, when his 15-year-old daughter, a Form Three student at SMK Simanggang, called him in distress.
“Around 1.00 pm, she called me, crying, saying that our house was on fire. I immediately rushed home, but by the time I arrived, it was too late. The house was already reduced to ashes.”
Among the items lost in the fire were four chainsaws, three generators, fishing nets, a boat engine, and a fiberglass boat he had just completed days earlier. Even more heartbreaking was the loss of his children’s school supplies and clothes, which were completely destroyed.
Tragedy struck even harder when a close neighbour, attempting to rescue Sahari’s father-in-law, Mohamed Idi, 70, suffered burns in the process. Both victims were rushed to Sri Aman Hospital for treatment.
The Sri Aman Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) received the distress call at approximately 12.38 pm. Sarawak Zone 3 Fire Chief, Muhammad Rais Adham Rosalan, reported that seven firefighters, led by Senior Fire Officer 1 Mohd Fadhli Buyong, were dispatched immediately to the scene.
“Upon arrival, we found a non-permanent house completely engulfed in flames. The fire had already burned down 100 percent of the structure,” he stated.
He added that the fire involved a 70-year-old victim, who had been taken to the hospital before the emergency response team arrived.
“Firefighters, equipped with full protective gear, conducted an initial assessment and used a 400-foot water stream from a nearby hydrant to fully extinguish the fire.”
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire and estimating the total losses.
This tragic incident serves as a painful reminder of how quickly disaster can strike, turning dreams into ashes in mere moments.