Fire destroys seven shop houses in Baling

BALING: A row of seven shop houses were destroyed in a fire at Kampung Bandar, Mukim Siong here early today.
Baling Fire and Rescue Station chief Assistant Superintendent Mohd Riduan Abu Malik said the station received a distress call at 6.11 am and the first engine arrived seven minutes latter.
When the firemen arrived, 80% of the shop houses were already burnt, he told Bernama.
He said the fire destroyed five retail shops, a food shop and a motorcycle store.
Mohd Riduan said 18 firemen in three engines from the station were involved in the fire-fighting mission and they were assisted by 11 firemen from the Pengkalan Hulu and Kulim fire and rescue stations.
The cause of the fire and losses incurred are being investigated, he added.
Meanwhile, Baling District Officer Md Shuhaime Abdul Rahman said about 50 people were victims in the fire and the necessary assistance would be given to them.
"The district office, with the cooperation of the Social Welfare Department, has distributed the disaster aid kit, cash aid of RM500 and food aid to them," he said.
The victims in the fire included Nazri Ismail, 40, and his wife, Salawati Romli, 39, whose retail shop was one of the shop houses that were destroyed.
Both sustained serious burns on the hands and body and have been admitted to Baling Hospital for treatment.
Salawati's younger brother, Mustaqim Romli, 20, said his sister and her husband managed to get out of the burning house with their children.
"My brother-in-law sustained serious burns when he went back into the house to get the car key," he said. — Bernama