Babysitter braves Kampung Baru blaze with baby in arms

Photo: @IqbalHamizul/Twitter
Photo: @IqbalHamizul/Twitter

In Jalan Raja Muda Musa, here, last night, a fire destroyed five homes close to the Kg Baru gateway, forcing a babysitter to bravely carry a three-month-old newborn boy to safety through heavy smoke.

Robiah Abdul Raof, 38, said that she was holding the baby at the time of the event when she noticed smoke coming from the upper floor of the two-story residence.

“The baby was sleeping at that time and I immediately picked up the baby to escape the fire. I didn’t have time to grab clothes or identification documents.

“The fire was raging (on the upper floor of the house) and there was thick smoke, but I was determined to save myself and the baby that I have been caring for the past three months.

“At the time of the incident, the baby’s parents were working,” she told reporters at the scene.

Meanwhile, house owner, Abdul Rahman Maarif, 65, said his (partitioned) house comprises five small units, which house nine of his employees who work in a nearby restaurant.

He claimed that the 60-year-old house’s condition contributed to the short circuit that started the fire.

“Previously, the workers told me there was a problem with the wiring, and I fixed it before tonight’s fire,” he said.

A fire last night destroyed five residences on Jalan Raja Muda Musa near the Kg Baru Gateway.

At 8:19 p.m., 36 firefighters from Titiwangsa, Sentul, Jalan Tun Razak, and Hang Tuah as well as the Emergency Assistance Unit went to the location after getting an emergency call, according to senior operations commander Rahmat Kamarulzaman.

“The fire involved a (partitioned) house comprising five small units…(it) was 90% destroyed.

“There were no casualties. The cause and estimated losses are still under investigation,” he said.

Kampung Baru is located in the northern part of KL’s central business district and is where you can still find traditional wooden houses. 

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