GEORGE TOWN: A family of three had breathing difficulties while trying to escape from a house fire on the 10th floor of a flat at Jalan Semarak Api in Air Itam here last night.
The mother and her two sons, aged between 40 and 66, were rescued by residents and given initial treatment by firefighters before being sent to the Penang Hospital for further treatment.
Paya Terubong Fire and Rescue station operations commander Mohd Zaini Zainuddin said they received an emergency call at 9.59pm and called the fire department's Emergency Service Assistance Unit (EMRS) to the scene.
"A unit on the 10th floor was on fire and the fire was raging when we arrived there. The family of three who lived there managed to save themselves but they suffered from suffocation.
"After being given medical assistance by EMRS, the three victims were immediately sent to the hospital for further treatment," he said.
Zaini said the fire department then carried out fire extinguishing work and the fire was successfully controlled from spreading to other houses within seven minutes.
"The fire destroyed almost 60 per cent of the unit.
"The cause of the fire and losses are being investigated," he added.