Four visually impaired pupils have suffered injuries when fire ripped through the female dormitory of the Milton MargaiSchool for the Blind on Wilkinson Road in Freetown late on Sunday. The fire partially destroyed a two-storey building and property worth millions of Leones.
The immediate cause of fire is yet to be established, but eyewitness account suggests that there was oscillation of electricity in the school a couple of hours before the fire outbreak.
Three female pupils sustained injuries after they jumped from the top floor of the two-storey building for safety.One male pupil who was sleeping was later rescued during the blaze.The injured were later taken to the Emergency Hospital for treatment.
The Principal of the School, SallieuTuray explained that the fire outbreak was noticed by one male teacher who stayed up late on Sunday after the pupils and otherauthorities of the schools had gone to bed earlier at round 9:30pm.
The principal said when the teacher noticed the fire, he immediately yelled for help causing panic among pupils who started running helter-skelter for safety.
In that regard, neighbours and caregivers immediately rushed out to rescue pupils who were stranded between the female dormitory and the matron quarter because the gate separating the two buildings was bolted.
He cited that in the early hours of Monday, officials of the Minister of Basic Education, Freetown City Council and Director of Social Welfare visited the school to assess damage caused by the inferno.
By George M.O. Williams