By: Musa Bai Sesay
In the early hours of Monday 21st February 2022, the Milton Margai School for the Blind at Wilkinson Road was seen ablaze much to the surprise of the school authorities and neighbors. Speaking to this medium on an account of the incident, Salieu Turay, head of the Milton Margai School for the blind, it all started around 12AM when they were shockingly awaken by the news that fire had taken over one of the female hostels of the school, adding that on the eve of the incident himself and the matron had painstakingly did their usual rounds in the compound and ensured that things were quite in place.
Mr. Turay said the whole scene was chaotic and the pupils were very much in a panicky situation, and seriously terrified by the flame with no idea of what to do or where to go. “I was in tears when I heard the girls screaming and crying Mr Turay fire; we are dying,” he said. He however, pointed out that they as authorities of the school were able to as quickly alert the neighbors whom he said wasted no time to come to their rescue even before Fire Force could reach them.
The Head of the Milton Margai School for the Blind noted that despite the interventions of good neighbours of the school and Fire Force among others, one of the female hotels was seriously burnt down; the pupils narrowly escaped through an unusual door leaving all learning material and personal belongs.
He further stated that at the moment, the female pupils cannot use their hotel as a result of the damage caused on it by the fire which is why he is calling on the government and other humanitarian organizations or individuals to come to their aid so that the affected buildings could be repaired, and food and non-food items provided for the children. He noted that the minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, almost immediately visited the school and took assessment of the damage done, adding other government officials have gone there too but more urgent steps needed to be taken to get back the school on track.
Mr. Turay expressed gratitude to all those that sacrificed their lives to put out the fire, adding had it not been for their timely interventions the entire school would probably have been burnt down completely. He maintained the cause of the fire remains unclear.