A firefighter was left devastated after he was unable to save his own family home from a fire that destroyed more than 10 of his camouflage firefighting uniforms in Kampung Jambu Merah, Melor, on Friday.
The victim, Mohd Alifudin Ahmad, 37, said he only managed to move two motorcycles and an ATV parked outside the house while the blaze rapidly spread through the property.
“All this time I’ve been helping others when their homes caught fire, but this time it was my own house burning before my eyes.
“I truly regret not being at home when the fire first started. If I had been there earlier, maybe more things could have been saved,” he told reporters at the scene.
Mohd Alifudin serves at the Pengkalan Kubor Fire and Rescue Station in Tumpat and is also attached to several special units, including the Special Tactical Operation and Rescue Team of Malaysia (STORM) Kelantan, the Water Rescue Team (PPDA) Pengkalan Kubor, and the Kelantan Fire and Rescue Department band unit.
He said before the fire broke out at around 1.30pm, he had gone to Friday prayers with his two sons aged 12 and nine. While returning home, he spotted thick smoke rising about 100 metres from the house.
According to him, the flames spread quickly through the inherited family home belonging to his wife’s family, leaving him unable to enter the house to save any belongings.
“Everything was destroyed — important documents, phones, wallets and even the camouflage firefighting uniforms I wear during operations were burnt.
“My children’s RM3,000 Raya savings, clothes and school books were all destroyed too. We estimate losses to exceed RM300,000,” he said.
Meanwhile, his wife, Nik Noor Fatihah Nik Man, 37, who was at home during the incident, said she heard several small explosions before discovering that the fire had started near the fuse box on the wall of the house.
She said she had just finished bathing their two-year-old child when she realised the house was on fire and immediately rushed to get the children to safety.
“At first, I heard several small popping sounds before seeing sparks coming from the main fuse box. I quickly grabbed my children and got them out.
“When I saw how fast the flames were spreading, I remembered my mother’s money and rushed into the room. I managed to save RM45,000 kept inside a drawer before escaping through the kitchen door,” she said.
The cash reportedly belonged to her mother, Mek Yah Deraman, 67, and was intended for the purchase of a piece of land from a relative.
Despite the heavy losses, the family said they have accepted the tragedy and are currently staying temporarily at a cousin’s house.
