Stilt house fires: Illegal wiring, negligence cause over RM150 million in losses

KOTA KINABALU - Unsafe electrical wiring and illegal connections, along with negligent use, have been identified as the major causes of fires that hit water villages in Sabah, causing losses of up to RM156.07 million last year.

Sabah Fire and Rescue Department director Mohd Pisar Aziz said various factors - using candles, open flames and open burning near homes - worsen the situation as fires can spread rapidly through the closely packed houses, most of which are built with highly flammable wood.

"Last year, fires in water settlements claimed 15 lives and injured 51 individuals. Awareness of installing smoke detectors and fire extinguishers among residents also remains low,” he said.

He shared that the department remains proactive but faces operational access challenges due to narrow and potentially unstable accessways and platforms as well as limited water sources that can endanger firefighters on duty.

Although response times meet established standards, physical access constraints can delay rescue efforts, he said, as he urged for stricter enforcement of safer construction guidelines.

Measures such as having dedicated emergency access routes, using fire-resistant building materials, and enforcing strict control over utility connections can prevent the recurrence of tragedies like the Kampung Bahagia fire that destroyed 1,000 homes on April 19 and the Kampung Karamunting fire that destroyed 30 homes less than two weeks later, Mohd Pisar said.

He also shared that the department has been actively conducting fire safety campaigns since 2023, including in Tawau, Semporna, Sandakan, and Kota Kinabalu, while women have been the focus of the department’s Household Risk Management Preparedness Programme (Suri), with 32,498 participants trained throughout 254 sessions held.

The department has also established 50 Community Fire Teams with 500 members as first responders and helped with the setting up of ‘Fire Point’ centres in several high-risk villages in the state.

Meanwhile, Sabah community activist Mohd Zaki Harry Susanto said that fires were no longer isolated incidents but directly reflect the urgent need for inclusive and safe urban development.

He pointed out that large-scale relocation was not the only practical solution, as it involves high costs and has significant social impacts on residents.

"Gradual in-situ upgrading is seen as more practical and realistic and immediate action should be taken to improve electrical wiring systems and expand the network of fire hydrants.

"The layout of housing lanes also needs to be redesigned to create properly planned emergency routes. Homeowners must fully cooperate without compromise for the safety of the community,” he said.

He also said that non-governmental organisations have also been urged to help provide basic emergency equipment as without comprehensive action, communities would continue to live under the looming threat of losing their homes in fires. - BERNAMA