ALOR STAR: The Fire and Rescue Department has collected several samples from the fire scene which killed five people at Kampung Baru Sungai Gelugor in Sungai Petani on early Monday morning.
State director Abdul Razak Muda said the samples will be sent for analysis to ascertain the cause of the deadly fire.
"Our K9 unit has helped to identify the evidence which may help us in our investigation. All the samples have been sent to our laboratory in Penang," he said when met today.
He said the department's investigation team has identified the location where the fire had started, but needed to probe further to identify the cause of the fire.
He said investigations will take two to three days to complete.
Abdul Razak said the fire had spread quickly from one house to another as all four were wooden houses located close to one another.
He said another adjacent house was also partially razed by the strong flames.
He added that among the common triggers of a fire incident is a poor wiring system which may have caused a short circuit.
It was reported that the pre-dawn fire had gutted four houses, killing five people and leaving one seriously injured.
The deceased have been identified as Tabiyah, 60, Habi Tokriman, 40, Mat Holil Tubat, 40, his wife Ume, 35, and Misbah Hul Anuar, 17.
Tabiyah's husband sustained severe burns and is reported to be in a critical condition.
Translated from Harian Metro