Curious onlookers observe the car fire at Jalan Ewe Hai.
KUCHING (March 8): A parked vehicle suddenly caught fire at Jalan Ewe Hai in Kuching’s old town around 1.40pm today.
Jalan Ewe Hai is connected to Jalan Carpenter.
According to eyewitnesses, the presence of flammable materials accompanied by strong winds in the area caused the fire to spread quickly to the adjacent shophouse.
Within moments the fire spread to at least four of double-storey shophouses.
At the scene were firefighters from the Padungan, Tabuan Jaya, and Batu Lintang stations.
Firefighters managed to control the blaze and continued to conduct an overhaul to fully extinguish the fire.
According to the FIre and Rescue Department (Bomba), two shophouses that were selling furniture were totally destroyed by the fire, while the third and fourth units were 50 per cent damaged, and the fifth unit was only 30 per cent damaged.
Bomba also revealed that a motorcycle that was parked along the five-foot way was also destroyed in the fire.
No injuries were reported from the incident.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the total cost of damages and the cause of the fire, the department added.
Firefighters dousing the remains of the shophouses to prevent reignition. – Photo by Chimon Upon