SHAH ALAM, May 20 — More than 40 tahfiz schools in Selangor now have Fire Squads (Skuad Bomba) comprising teachers and students to improve the safety of occupants, particularly during fires.
Assistant director of Selangor Fire and Rescue Department’s Fire Safety Division Razali Mohd Nasir said the initiative, introduced in 2020, serves as an emergency support mechanism for school communities facing unexpected situations that could endanger lives.
He said those involved are given basic fire awareness courses, including evacuation drills and guidance on identifying safe escape routes.
“Members of the Fire Squad act like emergency operations managers. They need to give instructions, ensure all students are safe and evacuate every room if a fire occurs.
“We also provide exposure to the science of fire — why and how fires happen, ways to extinguish them and what equipment can be used,” he told Media Selangor.
Razali explained that the establishment of Fire Squads not only benefits schools but also helps the department carry out early rescue efforts while waiting for firefighters to arrive.
With early information provided by the squads, he said rescue and firefighting operations can be conducted more smoothly and quickly, while also facilitating other processes.
“Squad members become the first group to assist firefighters. When we arrive, they can inform us which area is on fire, allowing us to act immediately. During the courses, we also expose them to field techniques.
“So we know victims should be gathered at the field, making it easier to identify where they are assembled. This information is important so we can rescue them as quickly as possible,” he said.
He added that demand for the establishment of the squads has been high among tahfiz centres, although the department faces several constraints, including time limitations and official duties.
However, the Selangor Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) has instructed every fire zone to offer the course to at least two schools each year to further increase the number of Fire Squads.
“The feedback from schools has been very encouraging. Moreover, we do not impose any charges and only share our services and knowledge with students to raise fire safety awareness.
“This is our contribution to the community. We cannot deny that these squads can help during emergencies. We are also not focusing solely on tahfiz schools, but also communities and residential areas,” he said.
Since 2020, only three tahfiz centres in the state were involved in fires — Maahad Integrasi Tahfiz Selangor Kuala Langat in August 2020, where 40 per cent of the building was affected; Maahad Tahfiz Harun Al Masri in Kuala Langat on July 2023, which was 70 per cent damaged by the fire; and Tahfiz Sungai Long Hostel, which recorded 80 per cent damage in December 2023.
“However, none of these incidents involved casualties,” Razali said.
