Residents in the Northern headquarter city of Makeni have expressed concern over the alarming increase in fire incidents in their town.
Mr. Mohamed B. Kanu land lord of 4 Conteh Street in Makeni, victim of Tuesday 7th February 2012 fire incident said his house was burnt to the ground leaving them to zero.
In an exclusive interview with this press the house owner said it all happened during the odd hour of 9:00pm as their children were studying with a locally made hurricane lamp. He said within 30 minutes to his surprise he saw his house engulfed by fire.
Neighbors tried their best to prevent the fire from escalating but pressure from the hamattan wind did not give them any chance while they saw the building completely burn down.
This is not the first time houses have burnt down as a result of fire from unknown sources. Since the start of the year police have recorded over seven cases of fire disaster within the city where houses are burnt to the ground.
This according to the resident Minister North was as a result of the absence of a good working fire engine in the North. Mr. Alie Kamara said presently in the entire Northern Province there is no good working fire engine at the Makeni Fire Force head office.
Madam Adama Bangura tenant of 4 Conteh Street said the recent fire incident in their house has totally crippled them. “ I came on the 6th February 2012 from Guinea with millions of Leones worth of goods, now look at me left with nothing but tears and pain,” she cried.
Abu Gbla (not his real name) senior fire force officer confirmed that presently the entire country has less than seven fire engines that are in good working order. Requests and proposals he said have been made to government for the purchase of new fire engines but alleged that government keep telling them that fire engines are on the way. The alarming rate of fire incidents in Makeni prompted Civil Society members to find solutions in salvaging the situation. In their radio discussion they informed residents to desist from keeping fuel in their houses.
This according to Salieu O. Kamara of Civil Society for Peace and Development (CSoPaD), have been identified as the major cause of fire incidents in Makeni. Mr. Kamara said whenever there is a shortage of fuel in the market, the city always records a fire disaster.
House owners including residents who have suffered fire accidents in Makeni this year called on government and other Non Governmental Organization to come to their aid especially in helping them with basic building materials, food and clothes.
By Mohamed Kabba
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