Simpang pulai: An elderly woman with disabilities was killed after the house she was living in at Jalan Lahat, Simpang Pulai, was destroyed in a fire last night. Perak Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Operations Division Assistant Director Sabarodzi Nor Ahmad stated that the department received an emergency call at 10:31 pm, and personnel from the Simpang Pulai Fire and Rescue Station were immediately dispatched to the scene.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, firefighters arrived three minutes later and found the blaze engulfing a Class A single-storey house, with about 90 percent of the structure already damaged. Upon arrival, the fire was found to have spread to almost the entire house, and there was a victim believed to be trapped inside. After the fire was extinguished, the body of an 81-year-old local woman, who was deaf and mute, was discovered in a burnt condition in the living room, located in the middle of the house.

Sabarodzi said the victim's 79-year-old brother, who was also in the house at the time, managed to escape when the fire broke out. He said the operations commander conducted a size-up before implementing the RECEO (Rescue, Exposure, Containment, Extinguishment, and Overhaul) concept and ordered personnel to carry out firefighting works until the blaze was brought under control at 11:20 pm.

A total of 27 personnel were involved in the operation, including members from the Pasir Puteh Fire and Rescue Station and the Pekan Baru Fire Volunteer Squad. The victim's body was later handed over to the police for further action. Sabarodzi added that the Fire Investigation Division, together with the police, conducted investigations at the scene, while the JBPM K9 Detection Unit was also deployed to assist. The cause of the fire and the estimated losses are still under investigation. The operation was fully concluded at 1:01 am.