KUCHING, April 3 — Twenty-two families were left homeless when a fire broke out at a 74-door longhouse in Sibu this morning.

But quick response by the local Fire and Rescue Department prevented the entire longhouse from being razed.

The department received a call at 8.45am and despatched three fire engines from the Sibu, Sungai Merah and Bintangor stations with more than 20 firemen to Rumah Engkalat at Jalan Kuari in Sibu.

Sibu zone Bomba chief Abdul Mutalib Rashid said the fire was under control around 9.53pm and put out at around 11.49am.

No casualties were reported but a 54-year-old woman received outpatient treatment after she passed out due to anxiety.

Mutalib said the cause of the fire was yet to be determined but an investigation would be carried out.