By Marian Magdalene Bangura, Strategic Communications Unit – MoICE
The Legal Officer of the National Fire Force (NFF), Bintu Fatmata Kamara Esq., has announced the drafting of a new Fire Safety Bill that seeks to modernize fire prevention and improve the country’s emergency response capacity.
Speaking at the weekly government press briefing at the Miatta Conference Center, Lawyer Kamara explained that the new bill is designed to drastically reduce the frequency of fire outbreaks through enforceable safety measures, legal accountability, and proactive public awareness.
“If we really want to cut down on the rate of fires, we need stronger laws to ensure prevention and compliance,” she said, adding: “We studied best practices from across the sub-region and worked with key partners to draft this comprehensive Fire Safety Bill.”
The proposed Fire Safety Bill contains 58 sections, each addressing critical aspects of prevention, enforcement, and response. Among the major provisions are:
Section 8 which “empowers the Chief Fire Officer to identify and recommend strategic locations for hydrants nationwide”.
Kamara revealed that Freetown currently has only three functional hydrants at Femi Turner Drive, Syke Street, and Eastern Police.
“Imagine responding to a fire in Calaba Town and having to drive back to Eastern Police to refill water,” she said. “This law will make firefighting faster and more efficient.”
Section 9 touches on False Alarms: It “Introduces penalties for individuals who deliberately make false calls. Offenders could face a fine of Le 2,000 or three months imprisonment, or both”.
“Prank calls waste valuable time and resources,” Kamara asserted. “While we are chasing false alarms, someone else might be facing a real emergency.”
Section 10 focuses on Abatement of Fire Hazards: it gives the Chief Fire Officer authority to inspect buildings and demand correction of fire hazards within a specified time frame, with penalties for non-compliance.
Section 16 talks about Fire Safety Certification: It “Requires all public buildings accommodating 100 or more people to obtain an annual Fire Safety Certificate from the Fire Force. Certification confirms that a building meets essential safety standards, including clear exits, functioning extinguishers, and unobstructed escape routes”.
Lawyer Kamara disclosed that between January and October 2025, the Fire Force has battled 436 fire incidents across the country, a situation she called “alarming and unsustainable.”
“We cannot continue to operate reactively,” she warned. “This law gives us the tools to act proactively and prevent disasters before they happen.”
The Fire Force is currently working with the Ministries of Internal Affairs and Finance to secure funding for a nationwide popularization campaign that will explain the bill to citizens and collect their input before its presentation to Parliament
“Even though we are experts, we value public input,” Kamara added. “Once enacted, the Fire Safety Law will transform fire management and make Sierra Leone safer.”
Madam Kamara noted that neighboring countries like Liberia already have stronger fire safety laws, which enable them to adopt proactive strategies. With this bill, Sierra Leone aims to meet and even surpass those standards, ensuring the protection of lives, property, and infrastructure.
“We are determined to make this law a reality,” Kamara concluded.
With national support, Sierra Leone will move from a reactive to preventive fire safety culture.
