A Padang Besar school building was 90% destroyed by fire, with a cleaner sustaining 30% burns. All students and staff were safely evacuated
PADANG BESAR: An eight-room building at Sekolah Kebangsaan Padang Melangit was approximately 90% destroyed in a fire this morning.
A private cleaning worker suffered 30% burns during the incident, according to the Perlis Fire and Rescue Department.
Perlis JBPM Assistant Director of Operations PgKB II Mohamad Azhar Yussof said they received an emergency call at 11.05am and arrived 13 minutes later.
“The fire involved a school building with eight rooms, including a store, an art room, a Design and Technology room, and a health room,” he told reporters at the scene.
Mohamad Azhar stated the fire is believed to have started in the store room before spreading to adjacent rooms.
Firefighting operations involved personnel from Padang Besar, Kangar, and Arau Fire Stations along with the Volunteer Fire Squad.
The fire was fully controlled within approximately one hour despite initial challenges.
“The operation was a bit difficult initially because water sources were limited, and the nearby fire hydrant was not working,” he explained.
Firefighters used water from a nearby pond before tanker assistance arrived at the location.
The 29-year-old cleaning worker sustained burns on his back thigh but remains in stable condition.
The victim has been sent to Tuanku Fauziah Hospital in Kangar for further treatment.
Perlis Education Director Rose Aza Che Arifin confirmed all 192 students and 18 teachers were safely evacuated to the school hall.
“This burned building was actually planned to be upgraded as the Integrated Special Education Programme block next year,” she said.
Following the incident, education authorities will reassess the need to provide more conducive facilities.
Rose Aza confirmed the school will operate as usual tomorrow since classrooms were unaffected by the fire.
She expressed appreciation to the fire department for their quick response in extinguishing the blaze.
The cause of the fire and extent of losses are still under investigation. – Bernama
