KOTA KINABALU: A woman jumped 3m down from a window with her newborn last night to escape a fire that broke out in Kampung Sembulan Baru here.
Nurshafieka Rahim, 23, who is on confinement, was sleeping with her baby girl when she was awakened by screams in the 11.30pm blaze. She had just given birth two weeks ago.
“My husband was working at the time.
“I went to sleep at 7pm, but woke up after smelling smoke and hearing my sister screaming there was a fire.
“The fire was so spreading fast that it reached our bedroom door.
“I immediately grabbed my daughter and exited through a window.
“I had to jump onto a water tank and then to the ground,” she said at the Sembulan Multipurpose Hall here, today.
“We were lucky we did not sustain injuries,” said Nurshafieka.
“Just that my baby was crying, probably shocked but everything is well.”
They were among 93 people affected by the fire — 49 adults, nine senior citizens, 34 children, and an infant.
Elnah Ukan, 60, said her family was homeless and her five grandchildren had lost school supplies worth more than RM500.
She said they had prepared the school uniforms and stationery two days ago.
“What is important is all 18 of us are safe. We will stay at the hall for the time being,” she said.
Sabah Fire and Rescue Department, in a statement, said 36 personnel from three stations were deployed to the village upon receiving a distress call at 11.32pm.
The fire destroyed three houses and four motorcycles.
No casualties or injuries were reported.