29-04-2025
Students escape blaze while attending prayers
KUALA LUMPUR: About 90 students escaped a fire at the Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Tinggi Setapak dormitory as they were attending congregational Isyak prayers at the school surau.
All students, aged 13 to 17, were at the surau when the fire started.
Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department senior operations commander Japari Tajuddin said they received the alert at 8.43pm.
Four fire engines from Setapak, Sentul, Jalan Hang Tuah and Gombak Selatan stations, along with an Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) team, were sent to the scene.
"Upon arrival, the team found the fire involved the first floor of the boys' dormitory," he said.
"Operations involving 40 personnel were carried out, and the fire was brought under control by 9.40pm."
The fire was fully extinguished shortly after, but about 80 per cent of the building was destroyed.
"Fortunately, no casualties were reported as all students were at the surau," he said.
Japari said the department's Forensics Unit would investigate the cause and assess the losses.
