Evidence collected at the Bara'em Al-Watan School includes a coal stove and coffee pot. — Okaz photo JEDDAH – An investigation has been launched into the causes of the fire at the Bara'em Al-Watan School on Saturday that claimed the lives of two female teachers and left 46 pupils injured. Brig. Abdullah Jeddawi, Director of the Civil Defense in Jeddah, said the investigating team, set up by Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah region, has already started its work. The team consists of fire experts from the General Administration of Criminal Evidence in Riyadh. It is also working with experts from the criminal evidence department of the Jeddah Police and a team of city investigators. He said the team is expected to submit a preliminary report in the next few days to the authorities. The report is expected to show whether the fire was an accident or a result of foul play. Evidence collected at the scene includes a coffee pot and stove. The team has already found that the emergency exits and the fire extinguishers at the school were not used. The investigators have also checked the smoke detectors and the fire warning system. In addition, a team of investigators, led by Col. Abdullah Al-Zahrani from the Jeddah Police, has started taking down the testimony of the teachers who were present when the fire broke out.
