By: Mohamed Sahr Mohamedsahrpro@Gmail.Com
At the hours of 4:00pm local time, Kpaama community at Savage Street in Brookfields, Freetown had a distressed outrage of fire that scorched a makeshift house of more than multiple rooms into ashes on Tuesday 14th October 2023.
Eye witnesses and affected victims said the cause of the fire incident was as a result of an alleged electricity irregularity and these are what they said during an interview at the scene.
Abibatu Kamara, an eye witness and resident of Kpaama community said she was outside whiles her sister rushed to her informing that fire has ravaged the nearby makeshift house. She quickly took on her heels in order to evacuate her properties, but was unable to take any as the fire made desperate moves towards her room.
She mentioned that as a result of the heat and tension of the smoke, she ran outside calling for help. “We were unable to take along none of our properties,” She lamented.
The victim told this medium that they saw the fire coming from one of the rooms of the tenants, but the tenant was not around. She said the cause of the fire was alleged electricity inappropriateness courtesy of Electricity Distribution Supply Authority (EDSA) “Perhaps it is due to bad light,” She said.
The local ice-block seller who fends her living through ice-block mongering added that she did not have nowhere to go neither have a place to sleep for her and her children. She felt grief and frustrated with regards the damage caused by the fire outbreak. She called on authorities and goodwill organizations to come to their aid in this difficult time.
Christina Sahr, a victim of the fire incident said the tension of the fire spurred her to retreat as she decided to make a move in order to take her belongings. However, nothing was taken and even her son’s school materials and documents were consumed out of recognition. “The smoke prevented me not to take anything outside,” She revealed.
She expressed that as a single parent, she had fought hard to make amends particularly for her children but everything has gone into extinction. Madam Christian called on the quick response from authorities concern and goodwill organizations.
Foday Bangura, Station Officer National Fire Office said there were no casualties from the unfortunate incident as they underwent their operation. He furthered that even though they had some challenges during their arrival, but they quickly responded with professionalism and ethics. Mr. Bangura stated that the National Fire Force protects lives and properties of Sierra Leoneans. “As of now I am not preempting the cause of the fire but we will continue with our investigation,” Mr. Bangura said.
He emphasized that at the end of their operations, they are going to call on the entire occupants of the building for interrogation in order to get their views. He urged people in the community to remain calm and count on their response actions.