Lawyer Haniff Khatri says decades of legal notes and 28 years of memories lost in Country Homes house fire

On Tuesday night, a pre-dawn fire ravaged three linked double-storey homes in Bandar Country Homes, Gombak, including the residence of prominent lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla. Selangor Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Assistant Director of Operations Ashrul Riezal Asbar reported that the blaze erupted at 3.06am and consumed the upper levels of the three properties, which are situated approximately eight kilometers from the Rawang Fire and Rescue Station.

The firefighters from the Rawang and Batu Arang stations, along with fire engines, responded to the emergency call. Upon arrival, they found the fire had caused severe damage, with 80% of the first house, 20% of the second, and 5% of the third house destroyed. A nearby Perodua Axia was also damaged, with 90% of it reduced to ashes.

Fortunately, no casualties were reported, as the fire was extinguished by 4.08am and operations wrapped up by 6.35am.

Mohamed Haniff recounted the harrowing experience, stating that he, his wife, and their two children were at home when the fire broke out. He was downstairs watching television when his daughter emerged from her room in search of water, alerting him to the blaze. Haniff, who had been sleeping downstairs, rushed upstairs to combat the flames with buckets of water but was quickly overwhelmed by the thick smoke.

Unable to contain the fire, he quickly woke his son and instructed him to evacuate before calling the fire department. Haniff praised the firefighters' swift response and professional efforts, which he credited for averting a potential tragedy. Despite the fire's destruction of the upper floor, the lawyer and his family emerged physically unharmed.