7 OLD SHOPHOUSES GO UP IN FLAMES

Tamparuli, Sabah (December 9, 2008): Seven double- storey wooden shophouses dating back to the 1950s were destroyed in a predawn fire here yesterday.

The fire is believed to have started at 5am above a stationery shop, one of seven lots destroyed.

Witnesses and neighbours called the Fire and Rescue Department at 5.32am and two fire engines with 13 personnel and an officer from the Tuaran fire station were despatched two minutes later.

The department's public relations officer, Affendy K. Ramin, said the team led by Madzlan Sarman arrived at the scene at 5.42am and had brought the blaze under control by 6.05am.

He said another fire engine from the Lintas station in Kota Kinabalu arrived at the scene moments later with six firemen.

"Initial investigations show that the fire began on the first floor of a middle-row shophouse.

"Fortunately, no one was injured and the cause of the fire has yet to be determined," said Affendy.

The destroyed shops sold sundry goods and handphones. One was a coffeeshop.

The row is a meeting point for residents as it is near a bus stop.

Source: NST Online, 10 Dec.2008