Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Big Fire in Kajang Town, 7 shophouses burn to the ground in the 60's

I remember one evening, pitch dark, there was a power cut at our house in Kajang Garden (Desa Bunga Raya). Everyone came out of their house and look up towards the sky, it was red with color and it was filled with smoke. Everyone was wandering what was happening, then came shouts that the town was on fire. Those days there weren't hand phones available and fixed line phones was only available to the rich. My mother was worried because our great grand father's shop was in town, she hurriedly took the bicycle and I sat on the back (common mode of transport in those days). It took her 15 minutes to reach the shop and what a sigh of relief when she saw the shop house intact. It was the opposite row of shop houses that was on fire, people were running here and there and fire engines with their siren howling were approaching. We just stood there like anyone else the fire was burning intensely and I could feel the heat radiating from the fire. People were shouting, and there were still people trapped in the building and some people tried to rush into the burning shop house but were held back by others. It was a tragic sight, the sound of fire crackers, fireworks were shooting dangerously close to other shop houses and shop dwellers were getting worried. Most of the shop houses were made of wood and were considered fire hazards. People were shouting to the firemen "over here the fire is spreading!!!". The fire was brought under control and all in all 7 shop houses was razed to the ground with hot smothering burning wood. They said 3 burn bodies was found the next morning.

How many of you remember that fateful day, many of you may have not been born, you probably could ask around for more details. If you found more stories, post your stories so that many others will read about the history of Kajang.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

i have no idea wad happened x| and when i asked my grand parents...they were like...which fire??? so many happened how to remember?? yea,thats it XD and one more thing,if u ask if they remember any fires on jalan reko,it'll be my grandfather's own factory... anybody know ken kee groundnut factory? dats the one~

Kc and Yk said...

Carson, the fire happened in Jalan Besar (Main Street). New shophouses have been built over the site. If you know where is Mubarak Store.

Anonymous said...

i was born in the 70s. I wouldn't have witnessed the incident, but i heard it from my parents and aunts about this fire on Jalan Besar. It was a big news to everybody as Jalan Besar is the town center. I miss the old Kajang in the 80s and 90s, so peaceful and much less traffic.

elle said...

my grandfather"s shop was one of the burnt shop, according to my grandma (left me in 1988) and my mum ... my mum said that i am 1-2 years old .. i"m born jan 1965. i do miss the old kajang town, when there"r kajang bazaar, rounf about, the fruits stall, the old market...where everone knows everyone ... main road / jalan besar changed alot .. like little masjid india .. chow kit ... or .. mubarak, fook miew , poh sang thong, miew lee ... all gone ... the ice kacang now located near kajang market..

Kc and Yk said...

Dear elle,

Yeah me too! Miss the old Kajang Town, I remember all those places and I can remember walking home at night 9.00pm to Kajang Gardens (Taman Bunga Raya) and you can hardly see any cars.
I am gathering some information on the Big Floods that happened during the 70's where half of Kajang was flooded. So far I have received about 18 photos (very old photos) on the morning after the great flood. If you have further photos or first hand stories please! please!.... email me a ykkclow@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

where is the fire station of kajang town before it is re-located to bukit mewah? i vaguely remember where but is it somewhere on the grounds of metro inn?? -doc9802@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

hey, i rememeber all our belongings inclusive photographs gone with the flood.. i will try go back to my parents" house to double check if any still around ok .. will keep u updated... by the way please keep on updating us with the latest in kajang ... tq have a nice day ...

Terri said...

my grandpa's liquor shop was one of it. lotsa photos n belongings went down together with it. dad and his brothers were hanging out at d coffeeshop (sin kee yew) next to 7 eleven when it happened. they din think it was their shop! :P

btw nice blog! i din know there's so much to know bout kajang!

Kc and Yk said...

Thx Terri,

I would like do to a story about Convent Kajang from the 70's. I remember there were fountains and rock gardens in front of the school and the scenery was relaxing unlike now. If you can contribute pls email me at ykkclow@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Flipper,

Thanks for this wonderful blog. Brings back so much memory. Fire in the 60's , my family was in it. Fire last year, we were in it too. How sad. The plastic ware shop! Told my mom about this blog...will get my brother to show her the pics.I miss the good old Kajang too.