More Investigations Reveal Where And How The Tahfiz School Fire Was Intentionally Started
The blaze at Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah tahfiz school on 14 September was described as the second worst fire incident involving religious schools in the country.
By Tang Ruxyn — 22 Sep 2017, 11:03 AM
The deadly fire at Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah tahfiz school on 14 September was intentionally set, according to the Fire and Rescue Department
Its director-general Wan Mohd Nor Ibrahim said that the fire, which claimed 23 lives, was started at the dormitory entrance on the third floor after the authorities found traces of petrol splashed on the shoe and towel racks, as well as on the walls.
He explained that "clean burns" were found on the walls around the dormitory door, which further confirms suspicions that the fire was started there.
"In addition to the testimony of witnesses, the existence of fire effects such as 'spalling' (breaking down of surface layers of masonry) and 'mass loss' at the nearby areas which strengthen the evidence on the location of fire," Wan Mohd Nor told reporters in a press conference yesterday, 21 September.
Wan Mohd Nor also said that the investigating team also found two pieces of key evidence - the liquid petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders - in front of the dorm entrance
The two gas cylinders were found to be emptied with their valves opened.
"The presence of LPG (petroleum liquefied gas) released from two gas cylinders caused the flames to spread quickly to the entire hostel."
"Furthermore, the massive fire load in the hostel also caused increased heat, causing the sleeping victims to meet a fiery end in such a short time," Wan Mohd Nor was quoted as saying by Malay Mail Online.
More evidence were gleaned from the K9 (canine) unit that detected seven locations and samples in front of the entrance of the dorm
"In this case, four dogs were deployed and all directed the officers towards the same location. The samples collected have been analysed by chemists at the Kuala Lumpur Fire Investigation Laboratory, who found that four samples contained combustible liquid residue of petrol," Wan Mohd Nor explained.
The Fire and Rescue Department believe that their findings indicated the incident as a case of "incendiary fire", which means that it was intentionally ignited.
He said that the department had submitted its full report of its findings to the police.
Meanwhile, the police brought one of the seven teenage suspects to the crime scene yesterday, 21 September
New Straits Times (NST) reported that a 16-year old suspect arrived at the tahfiz school in Kampung Datuk Keramat, Kuala Lumpur with the police at about 11.50am.
The suspect was handcuffed and wore a mask, while he was accompanied by the police officers into the building.
It is believed that the teen was brought to revisit the school in order to reenact the scenes that took place before the fire started.
According to media reports, officers from the Federal and City Forensic units were also seen gathering evidence and recording the details of the crime scene.
