Elderly Couple and Grandson Killed in House Fire

IPOH: An elderly couple and their grandson were found dead after being trapped in a fire at a double-storey terrace house in Taman Desa Tambun here early Sunday morning.

The victims were identified as Raja Ahmad Raja Ali, 70, his wife Zaitun Mohamed, 64, and their grandson Nik Abdurrahman Azimin Harith Helal, 18.

Perak Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Director Datuk Sayani Saidon said the department received an emergency call regarding the fire at a house at 17 Persiaran Desa Tambun 4, Taman Desa Tambun, at 4am.

She said firefighters from the Tambun Fire and Rescue Station arrived at the scene at 4.10am and found that the fire involved a Class A double-storey terrace house measuring approximately 20 by 70 feet, with about 70 per cent of the property engulfed in flames.

“Upon arrival, firefighters discovered that there were victims trapped in the fire.

“A 70-year-old man was found in a bathroom on the ground floor, while two other victims, an 18-year-old man and a 64-year-old woman, were trapped upstairs,” she said in a statement on Sunday.

Sayani said the 18-year-old male victim was found in an upstairs bathroom, while the 64-year-old woman was found in a bedroom near a window.

She said all the victims were related and that six people lived in the house, although only four were present when the fire broke out.

“Another occupant, Raja Ikhwan Hadi Raja Ahmad, 47, who is also a family member, survived after sleeping in the parking area or on the veranda outside the house when the incident occurred.

“The fire was completely extinguished, and the bodies of the victims were handed over to the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) forensic team,” she said.

Sayani said the firefighting operation involved 25 personnel from the Tambun and Ipoh Fire and Rescue Stations.

“Firefighters used a 200-foot hose line with two water jets supplied from the fire engine’s tank and a nearby fire hydrant, with assistance from the Ipoh Fire and Rescue Station’s Fire Rescue Tender (FRT) and water tanker.

“Firefighters also cut the lock on the door of an unoccupied neighbouring house to facilitate firefighting operations and set up a ladder at the front of the house to prevent the fire from spreading,” she said.

Sayani said the fire was brought under control at 4.45am, while the operation ended at 8am. The cause of the fire and the total losses are still under investigation.

Sinar Harian