Kampung jeriah abang ramli: An elderly man risked his life to save his eight grandchildren and a son after their family home was destroyed in a fire at Kampung Jeriah Abang Ramli, Jalan Oya Lama here yesterday morning. According to BERNAMA News Agency, Umar Sidee, 66, and his wife were tending to an orchard about six metres from their two-storey semi-permanent house when the fire broke out. The house was home to 19 family members from three households. Umar's eight grandchildren, aged between four and 14, were inside watching television, while his son, in his 20s, was upstairs. Umar recounted how his wife alerted him to the fire, and he immediately heard several explosions. Without hesitation, he rushed into the burning house to rescue his grandchildren and son. Despite the thick smoke and intense heat, Umar ensured everyone was safe before escaping. Umar, a former Malaysian Armed Forces personnel, shared that he and several villagers attempted to extinguish the flames using buckets of water, but the fir e spread too quickly. Firefighters instructed residents to move away as the blaze became more dangerous, leaving them to watch as the house was engulfed in flames. The fire destroyed a home that Umar had been building gradually over nearly four decades. Construction began after his retirement from the Malaysian Armed Forces in 1995 and continued during his tenure with the Public Works Department from 2003. Umar expanded the house over the years to accommodate his growing family, finally completing it last year. Despite losing important documents and valuables, Umar expressed gratitude that no lives were lost. He emphasized the safety of his family, saying possessions can be replaced, but loved ones cannot. In the 11 am incident yesterday, the house was completely destroyed, leaving the family with only the clothes on their backs.