A FIRE in Phnom Penh’s Tuol Kork district Tuesday destroyed three homes, and one official warned that the destruction could have been much worse if fire crews had not used all the city’s fire trucks to battle the blaze.

“We were lucky because the fire trucks were able to stop the fire easily,” said Phnom Penh Municipal Police Chief Touch Naruth. “It did not spread to other houses.”

Yesterday’s fire was sparked by faulty electrical wires in the home of a resident, officials said.

The blaze erupted less than a week after a massive fire tore through a village in Russey Keo’s Chraing Chamres II commune, forcing almost 2,000 people from their homes. On Monday, a smaller fire 3 kilometres away in Svay Pak commune razed three houses to the ground.

Residents displaced by Thursday’s fire still lack medicine, said commune Chief Van Thorn.

Authorities now plan to station at least two fire trucks in Russey Keo district, said Yun Chhun Ny, the National Police deputy chief in charge of fire.

However, the head of Phnom Penh’s Fire Department said previous calls for firefighting equipment have been met with silence.

“Right now, we only have 10 fire trucks, which is not enough to serve the whole city,” said Neth Vantha, director of the Municipal Fire Department.

“We have asked the ministry for help many times, but they ignored us.”