KLANG: A Civil Defence Force (APM) member was in tears after nine of his pet cats were burnt to death, when his and five other houses were burned to the ground today.
The 4.15am fire at lorong Haji Salehuddin, Sungai Udang, here also involved five other homes comprising 21 victims. The victims have since taken shelter at a nearby community hall.
Mohd Sazry Mohd Taha, 35, Sazry said he only found out about the fire after returning home from rescue operations following the storm which hit Petaling Jaya on Wednesday evening.
"Upon returning to the Klang APM office, I was informed by my colleague that my house had burned down.
“It was even more heart-breaking to see my cats which were embracing each other were also killed in the fire,” he said.
He added that four of his pet cats were rescued after they were abandoned, while the rest were given to him by his sister.
"Only two of my monkeys which were safe after they were rescued by my neighbours,” he said.
“I have to accept this. There is no point in shedding any tear’s, it’s not as if I will get them back. I consider this as test from God,” he said.
The cats were not the only loss suffered by Sazry. It turned out he also lost 2,500 figurines and 500 rings he had pain stakingly collected. Losses in the fire were estimated to be about RM20,000.
Meanwhile, a civil servant, Mohamad Khairul Lizam Mohd Tohid, 38, said he only realised his house was on fire when he felt a sudden spike in temperature at his home.
“I when I got up, I realised that the fire had already engulfed the kitchen. I immediately woke my wife and three children before we ran out to safety,” he said, adding that he could not save anything.
Meanwhile, Klang Fire and Rescue Department chief Samsol Maarif said the department received a distress call at 4.30am.
He said a total of 20 personnel from the Kota Raja, Andalas, Sungai Pinang and Port Klang fire stations were dispatched to the location.
“The fire involved a Class B house and five Class C house. There were casualty’s reported,” he said.