KUALA LUMPUR: Eighteen children and staff of an orphanage in Paramount Garden, 18.5km from here, escaped in the nick of time when it caught fire after lightning struck during a heavy downpour yesterday.
Damansara Fire and Rescue Department Senior Fire Officer 2 Jaswan Singh said 70 per cent of the roof of the one-storey house was destroyed in the fire, that also damaged the living room.
“All the 13 children, including the youngest aged seven years, and five caregivers occupying the house, exited swiftly to save themselves,” he said when contacted by Bernama.
He said eight firemen were sent to the location upon receiving an emergency call at 4.25pm.
The residents of the orphanage were transferred to a temporary home with the help of numerous quarters, Jaswan Singh added.