Four terrace houses damaged in early morning Prai fire

BUTTERWORTH: Four terrace houses were damaged in a fire at Taman Senangin early today.

Fortunately, all 10 occupants, including eight senior citizens, managed to escape.

Penang Fire and Rescue Department assistant operations director John Sagun Francis said the fire broke out at the four terrace houses, including one that was unoccupied, shortly after midnight.

Damages were estimated at between 30 per cent and 80 per cent at the affected houses.

"The occupants of all the affected houses managed to escape before firefighters arrived. No injuries or fatalities were reported," he said.

He said the department received a distress call at 12.45am.

A total of 24 firefighters from the Prai, Butterworth, Bandar Perda and Kepala Batas fire stations, assisted by the Chain Ferry volunteer fire brigade, were involved in the operation.

The fire was brought under control at 1.23am and fully extinguished at 1.48am, with mopping-up work carried out to ensure there were no remaining hazards.

The operation ended at 2.29am and the case was handed over to the Fire Investigation Team for further action.