Tawau: The swift action by the fire brigade here saved 1,300 houses in Kampung Kurnia Jaya from being gutted, albeit 26 houses which were razed in a blaze which broke out this morning.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Tawau Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) operations officer Madzlan Sharman said the fire alarm rang at 9.37 am and 39 personnel in five operation vehicles, including two Fire Rescue Tender (FRT) engines, were deployed to the scene.

"At the village, the firemen carried out extinguishing operations using seawater and water from our fire-brigade tanks," he said in a statement.

There were no casualties as all the residents in the village managed to escape, and the operation concluded at 11.45 am, Madzlan added. He also noted that the cause of the fire and the extent of the damages were still under investigation.