But ironically none of these deaths occurred in any of the major fires.
Most of the deaths involved children or the elderly who were alone at home.
Fire and Rescue Department Director General, Datuk Wira Wan Mohd Nor Ibrahim was quoted as saying the total loss caused by fires amounted to RM89,406,530 while the value of salvaged goods stood at RM1,155,507,818.
During the year the Fire and Rescue Department received 2,738 emergency calls and 42 fake calls.
Schools in the State were not spared this year with many school buildings in the State going up in flames causing thousands of ringgit in losses.
This prompted Sabah Education Department Director Datuk Jame Alip to announce the setting up a committee to investigate the frequent occurrence of fires in schools in the hope of improving safety.
In May, Deputy Education Minister II, P. Kamalanathan was reported sa saying the Ministry of Education would identify schools in rural areas that need improved electrical wiring systems to ensure the safety of schools and students following the spate of fires at a number of wooden school buildings in the State.
The first case of school fires started with the razing of two schools in Kiulu and Beaufort on March 3.
The razing of SK Pekan Kiulu saw the entire school being razed leaving 187 pupils, nine preschoolers and 22 teachers without a class to conduct lessons while at SK Gadong, Beaufort only the administration office and library was razed.
Barely two months later on May 5, another two schools were razed on the same day with two blocks at SK Tampasak Kinarut gutted involving the school library, Internet access centre, textbook storeroom and rehabilitation centre. The fire affected a total of 87 pupils from Primary One to Six.
Hours later a school block at SK Simpangan Kota Marudu was razed incurring losses of about RM50,000. The block consisted of four classrooms, headmaster's office, clerk office, surau, staff toilet, car garage and 120 chairs among others.
On May 15, one block of SK Penimbawan, Tuaran was gutted affecting Primary Six, Primary Two and Primary Three classrooms, the teachers room, library, rehabilitation centre and the administration room, but the pre-school was spared from further damage.
Major fires also did not spare water villages and squatter areas in the State with several leaving many victims homeless.
On July 3 a total of about 30 houses were razed leaving some 200 villagers homeless after a fire swept through their water village in Kg. Pondo, Pulau Gaya. However no casualties were reported.
Villagers were seen being ferried to the mainland by pump boats speeding to and from the island, as several loud explosions were heard coming from the village which was by then covered in thick black smoke.
Witnesses also claimed that five to six explosions believed to be from fish bombs were detonated by villagers to create a huge splash of water to help put out the fire. This was the second incident within a week as on June 30 more than 1,500 people were left homeless after a fire destroyed 150 wooden stilt houses and shops at Kg. Pangkalan, Kunak.
On February 1 a total of 18 semi permanent houses in Kg. Cenderamata 2, Likas, were damaged when fire swept through the village on the eve of Chinese New Year and close to 100 people were made homeless.
On January 5, twenty wooden stilt houses near the MPS field, Mile 2 1/2, Jalan Kampung Bakau, Sandakan were destroyed by fire, leaving over 100 people homeless. A total of 24 households and 150 villagers were effected by the fire.
On August 5, 67 houses were destroyed in a blaze in Kg Tanjung Kapur, Kudat leaving 429 squatters homeless.
On September 30, a major fire also destroyed about 12 oil tanker lorries at the premises of a company at Kampung Gudon along Jalan Tuaran Bypass, Kota Kinabalu causing a million ringgit in losses.
The fire began at about 9.10pm and a series of explosions were heard by nearby residents. The lorries, it was learnt, were all loaded with fuel ready for distribution by the company which had been operating there for more than 10 years.
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