KUCHING – A fire broke out at the Maahad Tahfiz Husnul Khotimah centre located along Jalan Semerah Padi, Petra Jaya, this evening. Thankfully, all 24 occupants — 20 tahfiz students and 4 religious teachers (ustaz) — managed to escape unharmed.
According to Petra Jaya Fire and Rescue Station Operations Commander PBK I Mohd Nizam Bujang, the fire is believed to have been caused by an electrical short circuit. The blaze completely destroyed the upper floor of the two-storey religious school building, but the ground floor remained untouched.
The incident was reported around 5.47pm, and fire personnel arrived at the scene within three minutes. Firefighting efforts were carried out by 19 officers from Petra Jaya and Padungan stations, using two fire engines and two Hilux support vehicles.
“The team worked both offensively and defensively using a primary hose line stretching 300 feet, supported by water from hydrants and nearby fire trucks,” said Mohd Nizam.
The fire was successfully brought under control and declared fully extinguished by 6.46pm, just an hour after it began.
No injuries were reported, and all students and teachers were safely evacuated before the fire worsened. The quick action of the tahfiz centre staff and the prompt response from firefighters helped prevent what could have been a major tragedy.
Also present at the scene were officials from PDRM, SESCO Berhad, Baitulmal, and the Sarawak Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) for monitoring and support.
Authorities are continuing their investigations into the exact cause of the fire, but early signs point to an electrical fault. The tahfiz centre’s management is expected to receive aid from religious bodies and the welfare department soon.
