Tawau fire and rescue station chief Jemishin Ujin said the blaze at Kampung Sri Aman on Batu 3 Jalan Apas, which occurred at about 7.30am, spread quickly as the wooden houses were close to each other.

He said three victims suffered asphyxiation due to the smoke, but were reported stable after receiving treatment by an emergency medical rescue services team at the site.

“The fire was extinguished by 51 fire and rescue personnel, including those from the Kunak station, community firefighters and the civil defence force.

“The firefighters took about 80 minutes to extinguish the fire, bringing it under control by 9.20am,” Harian Metro reported him as saying.

He said the operation also involved the police and Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd personnel.

The cause of the fire has not been identified yet.