‘’216 Fire Outbreaks Nationwide in the First Quarter of 2025’’
-Chief Fire Officer
Ornette Turay
The Chief Fire Officer of the National Fire Force, Nazir Kamanda Bongay, has disclosed that 216 fire outbreaks have occurred during the first quarter of 2025. Simply put, these fire outbreaks took place in the months of January, February and March this year.
He revealed this alarming figure at the weekly press conference held on Tuesday 14th April, 2025, usually hosted at the Ministry of Information and Civic Education Conference Hall.
Throwing light at past Saturday’s fire outbreak at State House, he said the cause of the inferno at the seat of power was due to working appliances left on, some Air Conditions were not switched off and electrical malfunction of appliances.
Kamanda Bongay said he got a distressful call at 3:05 on the said Saturday that State House was on fire, he added that the fire fighters spent four hours to put out the fire. He added that he had to mobilise all the fire engines in the Western Area as the intensity of the fire was serious.
The Chief Fire Officer informed journalists that some offices were completely burnt down.
Minister of Information and Civic Education, Hon. Chernor Bah commended the efforts of the Chief Fire Officer and his officers for a job well done. ‘’Mr. Chief Fire Officer, you are a hero. It was a job well done by you and your men,’’ Hon Cee Bah remarked.
Making his contribution, the Director General of the National Disaster Management Agency, Lt. General Rtd. Brima Sesay disclosed that the State House fire accident a forensic investigation would have to be carried out so as to ascertain the true cause(s) of the inferno.
He acknowledged that fire outbreaks across the country are becoming alarming.
In an emotional narration by two deportees from Mauritania, they explained how they were maltreated during their stay in Mauritania. They advised that rosy stories transmitted to them from their relatives were all lies.
The climax of the press conference was an advise to the public from the Chief Fire Officer, Kamanda Bongay that people should turn off all electrical appliances when living their homes, and when going to bed and those using firewood and charcoal should ensure that they keep it far away from their dwelling places.
