Safety training and fire drills pay off for students

REMBAU: The girls of Sekolah Tinggi Islam As Sofa here were put through fire drills and safety training after the tahfiz fire that claimed 23 lives in Kuala Lumpur – and that probably saved their lives.

The 37 female students’ hostel dormitory was destroyed in a fire early yesterday and they escaped unhurt after fleeing the burning building through three unlocked exit doors.

School principal Norbadrulzaman Nordin, 36, said the students were regularly educated on fire safety and it was made compulsory for them to attend drills.

“We have always insisted that they must know what to do in the event of a fire,” he said when met at the scene.

“In fact, after the fire (at Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah tahfiz) in Kuala Lumpur, we reminded them of the importance of knowing where the exits are if a fire breaks out.”

He added that prompt action by the students in notifying the wardens prevented the fire from spreading to adjoining buildings.

“Our staff used fire extinguishers to fight the blaze but they were unsuccessful,” he said.

Norbadrulzaman said the girls’ hostel was set up in 2014 as temporary housing.

“They are supposed to move to a permanent hostel that is under construction at our main complex a few kilometres away,” he said.