KUALA LUMPUR: Feeling the heat and smelling smoke from a fire at home were what helped to save an elderly couple who were asleep in their house, in Jalan Dato Haji Harun, Taman Taynton View, Cheras here early Monday (March 21) morning.

       The 72-year-old husband, who wanted only to be known as Wong, said he was awakened due to the smell of smoke at about 3am when a fire was raging on his house ceiling.

       "I quickly saved my wife and myself. I am not sure how the fire started but three of the rooms were on fire except the kitchen and back room.

       "Besides that, my car that was parked in front of my house was destroyed and several documents including identity cards and driving licences could not be saved," he told Bernama at the scene of the incident on Monday.

       The couple's house was one of two single-storey terrace houses destroyed in the fire in the housing area.

       Wong said that this was the first fire incident in the housing area since he and his family began living there 38 years ago.

       Another victim, known as Leong, 43, is thankful that he was awake at the time of the incident and that none of those in his house suffered any injuries.

       "I heard a sound like something cracking and saw smoke...I rushed out of the house and saw a huge fire. I then called the fire department.

       "The (front) room's roof and ceiling were damaged. I am grateful no one was hurt as we all have awoke up due to the fire," he said.

       Meanwhile, a spokesman of the Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department's operations centre, said it received an emergency call regarding the incident at 3.08am and 25 firefighters were deployed to the incident location.

       "The firefighters encountered difficulties extinguishing the fire due to the electric current flow and heavy fire load," the spokesman said when contacted, adding that the fire was brought under control in less than 30mins.

       "The fire, involving an area of 40x100 sq ft, completely destroyed the first house (Wong's) and 30 per cent of the second house (Leong’s). No one was hurt in the fire while the cause of the fire is still under investigation," he added.- Bernama