‘Religious school students, teachers died quickly’
It was arson and victims died quickly, says dept
THE Fire and Rescue Department, in a report on the tahfiz tragedy, says the fire that claimed 23 lives started at the entrance of the third-floor dormitory. The department’s chief also reveals that the first indication it was arson came at
1pm, seven hours after the fire broke out.
AZURA ABAS
AND HASHINI KAVISHTRI KANNAN PUTRAJAYA news@nst.com.my
EVIDENCE shows that last week’s fire, which claimed 23 lives at the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah religious school in Kampung Datuk Keramat, started at the entrance of the third-floor dormitory. The fire spread rapidly, killing the victims within a short span of time.
In summarising its findings of the incident yesterday, the Fire and Rescue Department said this was based on the spalling (break down of masonry’s surface layers) of the wall near the dorm entrance, as well as damage to nearby areas.
Its director-general, Datuk Wan Mohd Nor Ibrahim, said the first indication that the fire was arson came about at 1pm, seven hours after the fire broke out.
Wan Mohd Nor said his team had found petrol residue on a towel and shoe racks, and on a nearby wall.
“Two key pieces of evidence were discovered. Two liquid petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders were found in front of the dorm entrance. Both cylinders were empty with their valves open.
“Another evidence was gleaned from the K9 Unit, which detected seven spots; seven samples were collected from the front of the dorm entrance.
“Four sniffer dogs were used (one after another) and all pointed to the same spot,” he said here yesterday.
It was the first time the department issued an official statement on what they had established from the incident, which made global headlines.
The incident has triggered authorities to revisit the issue of safety in similar schools that do not come under the purview of the Education Ministry.
Wan Mohd Nor said four samples were found to contain fire accelerant residue.
“The fire spread quickly because of the LPG gas that had been released.
“In addition, there were many fire loads (items that increase the chances of a fire spreading) inside the dorm, which caused the blaze to spread rapidly and raise the heat, killing those sleeping in a short time,” he said, adding that the fire had spread to the ceiling and razed the door of the thirdfloor dorm.
Asked if it was true that the dorm’s door was jammed shut with a spanner, as some reports had claimed, Wan Mohd Nor replied in the negative.
He said the department had submitted its full report to the police on Wednesday.
Last Thursday, the nation mourned the loss of 23 lives, 21 of whom were students, at the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah religious school.
Seven boys, aged between 12 and 18, were detained a day after the incident.
Investigations show the boys started the fire to seek revenge against some of the students, whom they had a disagreement with.
Page 1 pic: A 16-year-old suspect is taken to the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah religious school by policemen yesterday.