Four family members, including a four-year-old girl, were forced to climb onto the roof of a neighbouring house to escape thick smoke during a fire at Lorong Bukit Minyak 21, Taman Bukit Minyak in Penang on Tuesday morning.
The incident, which occurred at about 7.43am, saw the victims trapped on the upper floor of their double-storey terrace home before making a desperate escape to a nearby roof while waiting for firefighters to arrive.
Penang Fire and Rescue Department Operations Assistant Director John Sagun Francis said emergency crews received the distress call at 7.43am and dispatched firefighters from the Bandar Perda station to the scene.
He said the first fire engine arrived at 8.01am after navigating heavy traffic over a distance of about nine kilometres from the station.
Initial findings showed the fire involved a 20 by 30 feet double-storey terrace house, with the blaze starting on the lower floor and causing about 30 per cent damage to the structure.
John added that all trapped occupants, aged between four and 68, were successfully rescued without injuries despite being stuck upstairs during the incident.
He said the fire also damaged a Honda City car by about 50 per cent and a Honda ADV 160 motorcycle by around five per cent.
A total of 24 firefighters, including the station chief, were involved in the operation alongside volunteer fire brigades from Juru, Taman Sukun and Permatang Tinggi.
The fire was brought under control at 8.06am and fully extinguished by 8.33am, with overhaul and inspection work carried out before operations ended at 9.05am.
Authorities have since handed the case over to the Fire Investigation Unit to determine the cause and total losses, while post-incident assistance has been provided to the affected family.
