Kota Kinabalu: A fire broke out at the historic Kota Kinabalu Community Centre on Jalan Dewan Masyarakat, Monday, destroying 80 per cent of equipment intended for the coming August 31 National Day celebrations and causing extensive damage to the cherished heritage building.
The blaze, which began around 11pm on Monday, prompted a distress call at 12.44am that brought 25 firefighters from Kota Kinabalu, Lintas and Penampang stations to the scene.
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The emergency teams battled the fire for more than three hours before finally bringing it under control at 4.88am Tuesday.
No injuries were reported. The fire destroyed sound systems and LED screens that had been delivered just hours earlier for the National Day ceremony.
A 21-year-old Kota Kinabalu City Hall staff member known as Aurel, said the equipment had arrived via a 3-tonne lorry at 3pm.
Police, DBKK staff and Sabah Electricity personnel also responded to assist at the scene. The cause of the fire is still under investigation as at press time.
The hall survived decades of challenges including rapid urbanisation, tropical weather and the passage of time as one of the earliest public structures built in Kota Kinabalu after World War II.
Originally known as the Jesselton Community Centre, the hall has served as the heart of civic life in Kota Kinabalu for over six decades. It was designed by Billings Leong.
It was built in the 1950s and has a multi-purpose space featuring a full basketball court convertible to three badminton courts, with seating for 800 people.
Built on land that previously served as a football field and recreation area under British rule, the hall quickly became the city's premier venue for official functions, community events, cultural performances and public forums.
Its importance peaked during Sabah's early development following independence in 1963 and was where the Cobbold Commission held its hearings on the wishes of the people towards the Malaysia proposal.
The hall also played a sombre role during the Double Six Crash tragedy, serving as a location where victims' bodies, including that of Tun Fuad Stephens, were placed for last respects.
In the mid-1990s it was slated for demolition under a redevelopment plan that would have seen a shopping complex in its place.
However, a sustained media campaign by Daily Express with support from then Museum Director Datuk Jamdin Buyong that it was too important to be demolished and qualified for Heritage status won the day. The relevant Minister then had Jamdin transferred out.
Meanwhile, in another part of the city, firefighters rescued two men trapped in an elevator during a construction material fire at a commercial centre, Tuesday.
Fire and Rescue Department received an emergency call at 1.57am and arrived at the scene 13 minutes later. The fire occurred on the fifth-floor parking area, damaging 20 per cent of the space.
Both victims, who suffered breathing difficulties from smoke inhalation, were treated at the scene by Emergency Medical Rescue Services personnel.
The blaze was brought under control at 3.25am and fully extinguished eight minutes later. Nineteen firefighters from Kota Kinabalu, Putatan and Penampang fire stations responded to the emergency.
Police and Sabah Electricity personnel were also present to assist.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. Both victims are reported to be in stable condition.
