An explosion outside the house saved a man and his wife from a fire that destroyed eight workshops, eight cars and two motorcycles in Kepong Baru in Kuala Lumpur early today.

The explosion, similar to an exploding firecracker, jolted welding shop owner P Thanagopal, 45, from his sleep at 5.45am and he and his wife fled the fire in Jalan Antai Kanan 4.

Thanagopal, who had been living there for 15 years, could only save a motorcycle.

Jinjang Fire and Rescue Station chief Noor Azhar Tajudin said 64 firemen from the Jinjang, Sri Hartamas, Hang Tuah and Gombak Selatan fire stations were rushed there in six trucks.

He told Bernama the firemen had to draw water from a river to bring the fire under control in about 30 minutes.

No one was injured in the fire, and the cause and damage had yet to be ascertained, he said.

- Bernama