There were no students or staff injured as the school day had ended earlier at 11.20am. However, SK Batu 4 afternoon session pupils fled upon seeing thick smoke and fire billowing from SK Sentosa.

Two wooden blocks housing the primary school’s office, staff room, hall and religious room were destroyed in the fire that started at around 12.15pm.

“Most of the pupils and staff of SK Sentosa had already returned home. Only a few were still around,” said a school official.

The fire is believed to have started at the school’s office area.

Staff who were still around noticed thick smoke and immediately evacuated the office, while telling other pupils still in the school compound to leave.

The building was razed within 30 minutes.

SK Sentosa principal Sofiah Mohd Ali said the school was temporarily using a block next to SK Batu 4 as they are supposed to shift to a new site in nearby SMK Kabota on March 5.

“Thankfully, that no one was hurt in the fire,” she said, adding that most of the school’s administrative files, computers and other equipment were destroyed.

“It’s very sad,” she said, adding that the school had an enrolment of 139 students as well as 26 teachers and support staff.

Tawau Fire and Rescue Services Department station chief Sharudi Delamin said four fire trucks with 19 firemen rushed to the scene after receiving a distress call at 12.28pm.

They were able to put out the fire by 1.05pm and stop it from spreading to an adjacent block built out of wood,” he said, adding that they were investigating the cause of the fire.