2 die as firemen couldn't locate security guards on duty to raise boom barrier at entrance

In the 6.30am fire at Taman Sri Sinar, Kepong, here yesterday; Kepong and Batu volunteer fire team head Calven Loke Wai Hoong, 36, lost his wife, Annie Ong Ean Lee, and daughter Artina, 2.

Loke was out of town, on by-election duty in Merlimau, Malacca.

A neighbour, A. Ananthan, 34, said he heard Ong's shouts for help. He said: "Fearing that something terrible might have happened, we rushed out and saw the house on fire. But we did not hear any more shouts from inside."

He called the Fire and Rescue Department immediately and tried to put out the fire.

When the firemen arrived 10 minutes later, they were unable to enter the housing estate because the security guards on duty could not be found to raise the boom barrier.

Left with no choice, the firemen had to cut through the barrier, located about 200m from the victim's house, before they could come in to put out the fire.

However, their attempt was futile as the fire spread very fast.

ORIGINAL SOURCE