SANDAKAN: A sequence of fires across eastern Sabah during the weekend tested emergency responses, resulting in the total loss of a school, an industrial incident, and a quickly contained residential blaze—all without serious injury.
The most significant damage occurred in Lahad Datu on 3 January, where a Community Learning Centre in Ladang Bagahak 1 was completely destroyed. The private school, operating from a temporary 40×45-foot structure, was burned to the ground. Lahad Datu firemen employed a dual-source strategy, using tanker water and an open well to control the flames. No students or staff were harmed.
A day later, on 4 January, an industrial fire ignited at the Sapi Plantation in Sungai Sapi, Beluran. The blaze started in a thresher drum containing palm oil fibre and residue. The facility’s internal Emergency Response Team of six members contained about a quarter of the fire before a seven-person team from Beluran Fire and Rescue Station arrived to oversee safety protocols and complete extinguishment.
Earlier, on 2 January in Sandakan, prompt action by residents at Batu 7, Sungai Kayu prevented escalation of a minor fire. The blaze, confined to a lawnmower storage shed and causing roughly 10% damage, was put out before firefighters arrived. An eight-person crew from Sandakan later conducted safety checks to ensure no residual risks.
The back-to-back incidents highlight the varied nature of fire emergencies—from community-led action to coordinated industrial responses. Investigations into the causes of the Lahad Datu and Beluran fires are underway. – James Leong
Structures at the Community Learning Centre in Ladang Bagahak 1, Lahad Datu up in flames.
