Mystery biker honks away to save six from a fiery fate

SUNGAI PETANI: The motorcyclist who was honking away remains a mystery in the confusion of the aftermath but the quick-thinking saved a family of six from perishing in a blaze which gutted five houses at Taman Sri Impian in Sidam Kiri near here early this morning.

Md Razzi Hassan, 71, said when the fire broke out, he was sound asleep with five others of his family, his wife, son, son-in-law and two grandchildren.

"Suddenly we heard the noise of a motorcycle honking outside the house ... we were stirred awake and in shock but rushed out to save ourselves after realising that the house was on fire. I have lived here for almost 40 years and this is the first blaze," he said here today.

Meanwhile, another victim Mohd Hariz Hazwan Abdul Aziz, 34, said he heard an explosion from the house next door which startled him from sleep.

"I didn't have time to find the key to the house gate so I climbed over the fence to escape immediately. Thank goodness all ended well, I was short of breath and was sent to Hospital Sultan Abdul Halim (HSAH) for outpatient treatment," he said.

Sungai Petani Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) chief Deputy Fire Superintendent Ismail Mohd Zain, who received a call about the fire at 2.49 am, said: "There were five houses in total that caught fire, four of which were 90 per cent destroyed."

Kuala Muda Civil Defence Force officer Captain Azahar Ahmad said the 20 fire victims from six families were put up at a temporary evacuation centre at Taman Sri Impian hall at 9 am. All families were given emergency food aid kits ... The situation was under control and no one was injured," he said.

-- BERNAMA