Though the blaze in the private girl’s school in Safa left two teachers dead, Saturday’s fire was reminiscent of the fire at the Intermediate school 31 in the Hindawiyah district in Jeddah 10 years ago. There were 14 deaths in that fire.
Faisal Al-Ghamdi, one youth who braved the flames to rescue his niece studying in kindergarten, could not keep down his simmering fury at the negligence of school authorities for not keeping emergency exits ready or at least open up all exits when the fire began.
Al-Ghamdi said he rescued five children in addition to his niece. He said several relatives of the students managed to rescue their wards after breaking windows or scaling walls. Breaking the windows had the additional advantage of tempering the thick smoke inside, he said.
Fouad Al-Ahmadi said the school's main doors were shuttered even as the fire started spreading and the girls were crying for help. The waiting parents were horrified and panicked. While some of them rushed the closed door, many started scaling walls to rescue their kids.
"I could not find even a sign of emergency exit in the building. I was horrified to learn later that the exits were bolted and blocked with chains. I also failed to see any fire extinguishers," Al-Ahmadi said.
Emad Al-Sayyid and Muhammad Eisa said the failure of the school officials to respond to the situation was evident. Parents were particularly furious when they learned that the school officials initially did not permit the bigger girls to get out of the Inferno because the girls did not wear abayas.
A 14-year-old boy who came to rescue his sister said he scaled a wall and stood on an air-conditioner and broke the windowpanes of the class in which a number of girls were locked up and started bringing them out.
Abdullah Al-Suwailim, a parent, said absence of preparedness in the school to face an emergency signaled the total inefficiency of many teachers to handle critical situations.
Husain Ilyas, a volunteer, said he rushed to the school on reading about the fire on Twitter and rescued his only child. It is believed, not officially confirmed, that the cause of the fire was electrical short circuit in the basement where inflammable materials were stored.
Maj. Gen. Adel Zamzami, director of Civil Defense, denied reports that some students had jumped out of windows to escape from fire.
Education Minister Prince Faisal bin Abdullah ordered his deputy Noura Al-Fayez to submit an urgent report after visiting the school, ascertaining the condition of injured girls, assessing the losses and ensuring that the victims were treated in hospitals.
“There should be no laxity under any condition where lives of girls and their teachers are involved. Although what happened is destined, it is our duty to find out the causes and punishment of the responsible,” the minister said.
Director of Health Department in Jeddah Dr. Sami Badawood said the bodies of the fire victims would not be handed over to relatives until the statements of Civil Defense and police arrive.
It was also reported that people started rescue operations even before the arrival of Civil Defense. Some broke windows and doors with chairs and some girls jumped off the third floor.
The school principal waited out the blaze, saying she would not leave the campus until she was sure that all girls left the school.
However, the parents in general put the blame squarely on the school authorities for complicating a casual accident into a horrific tragedy. Mother of Rua Rashid of fifth form in the intermediary level said Rua was unconscious for some time and now she does not remember many things.
Taif Al-Qahtani’s mother said her daughter suffered burns and bruises in addition of head injuries. Mother of Ghadir Al-Juhani said she did not find her daughter in the school when she went there after the fire. Later she located Ghadir in a hospital.
Third standard student in the intermediary level Rina Al-Shahari’s mother said her daughter was unconscious after breathing in thick smoke.
The service of volunteers was also commendable during the calamity and in checking the spread of the tragedy. Khaled Al-Sulami, a passerby said he saw the fire and rushed inside with some others. He led 15 girls to safety, according to reports.
Nazar, another youth engaged in rescue operations before the arrival of the Civil Defense, said he broke windows so that fresh air could enter the school building and reduce choking accidents.
Another volunteer Muhammad Al-Sahli, , who saved many students, wondered why schools are not equipped with basic rescue and safety apparatus.
Maj. Gen. Muhammad Al-Harbi, said commander of the security aircraft said his men saved a Civil Defense personnel and a child who were seriously injured.
Director of Civil Defense in Jeddah Brig. Abdullah Jeddawi said 700 students, 110 teachers and 32 maids were rescued from the burning building.
Arwah Aal Al-Sheikh, owner of the school building said a drill to handle emergency situations including smooth exit through emergency doors was conducted last week.
She said a large number of girls benefited from the drill and exited safely in line with the instructions they received at the drill.
Razan Al-Najjar, second standard student of the intermediary level and admitted to the Al-Jedaani hospital said she suffered severe burns. “We sought refuge in the teachers room when the fire appeared in the halls. But when the smoke filled the room some body opened the windows and started jumping from the second floor.”
She said the impact of the fall was reduced because many people standing below caught them before they touched the floor.
