SIBU (Nov 22): A 66-year-old man had a narrow escape this morning when the pickup truck he was driving caught fire at Mile 28 of the Bintulu-Miri stretch of the Pan Borneo Highway.
The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) confirmed that a team from the Bintulu fire station responded promptly after receiving a distress call at 8.30am.
“Upon arrival, the team found the vehicle fully engulfed in flames,” Bomba stated in its report.
Firefighters worked diligently to extinguish the fire, deploying one hose line with water sourced from their fire truck. The fire was successfully brought under control by 9.19am.
Fortunately, the driver managed to escape unhurt, but the vehicle was completely destroyed in the blaze.
As of now, Bomba has yet to determine the cause of the fire or assess the total value of damages incurred.
This incident highlights the importance of regular vehicle maintenance and safety checks, particularly for long-distance highway journeys.
Motorists traveling along the Pan Borneo Highway are advised to be vigilant and ensure their vehicles are in good condition to avoid similar incidents.