Hpakan, 3 February
A fire that broke out in ward-1 in Seikmu Village, Hpakan Township, Kachin State yesterday, destroyed five houses, according to the township Fire Services Department.
The fire was believed to have started from a gas cylinder using in the kitchen of U Naing Oo in the village and spread to nearby houses.
Staff from the township GAD led by the township administrator, military personnel, policemen, firefighters, staff from the township Red Cross Society rushed to the incident scene to put out the fire in collaboration with auxiliary firefighters and villagers using seven water tankers and one backhoe. The fire was brought under control at around 8:50 pm and totally extinguished at about 9:00 pm.
The fire destroyed five houses. A total of 30 fire victims are taking refuge in the houses of their relatives. But no casualties have been reported. The authorities pressed charged against U Naing Oo for his negligence.—Ta Lin Maung, IPRD
Translated by JT
