Students, teachers flee as fire engulfs dormitory at JB tahfiz school, no casualties

JOHOR BAHRU, April 3 — Fifteen students and three teachers of Maahad Tahfiz Sains Al Insyirah in Taman Tampoi Utama near here went through an anxious moment when the dormitory and multipurpose hall of the premises were destroyed in a fire yesterday afternoon.

The incident, which occurred at about 4.30 pm, took place while all students and staff were on the first floor attending Quranic studies, but all of them managed to escape unhurt.

Principal Mohamad Halimi Kolan said he heard cracking sounds from the upper floor housing the dormitory and hall before asking a teacher to check.

“I heard cracking sounds from the upper floor which houses the dormitory and hall. I asked a teacher to check before being informed that the fire was raging with thick smoke,” he told Bernama when contacted, adding that he immediately instructed all students and staff to evacuate the building to safety.

“Alhamdulillah, all are safe. The fire-resistant door also helped control the situation from spreading too quickly,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Johor Fire and Rescue Department’s Operations Centre said it received an emergency call at 4.35 pm before dispatching a fire engine from the Larkin Fire and Rescue Station to the location.

The statement said the fire involved a three-storey permanent building, with flames raging on the top floor housing student and teacher accommodation measuring about 30 x 30 square feet.

The fire was brought under control before operations were fully concluded at 6.09 pm and no casualties were reported. — Bernama