By Ragan M. Conteh

During the Ministry of Information and Civic Education’s weekly press briefing held on Tuesday, 15th April 2025, at the Miatta Conference Hall, Youyi Building, Freetown, authorities addressed the recent fire incident at State House and rising fire outbreaks nationwide.

Chief Fire Officer Nazir Kamanda Bongay confirmed that the State House fire operation lasted over four hours. He described the blaze as severe but successfully contained due to a coordinated emergency response.

The fourth floor was significantly affected, with some areas completely burned, while others were partially damaged. A staircase collapsed during the operation, but fortunately, no lives were lost, and no major injuries were reported.

Mr. Bongay attributed the cause to an electrical fault, likely sparked by substandard extension cords and overloading of appliances, especially air conditioners left running.

He emphasized that the building’s materials, such as carpets and insulation, accelerated the fire’s spread.

From January to March 2025, the National Fire Force recorded 201 fire incidents across the country: 119 in the Western Region, 35 in the South, 32 in the East, 19 in the North-East, and 6 in the North-West. An additional 15 fires occurred in April, including the State House incident.

Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Brima Sesay, Director General of the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), commended the fire force’s efforts and highlighted the growing trend of human-induced fires.

He urged citizens to adopt safer electrical practices and stop leaving appliances on when not at home.

The NDMA has recorded 78 fire incidents from January to April 2025, underscoring the urgent need for national fire safety awareness.

The agency continues outreach and education efforts through radio, TV, and community engagement, and encouraged the public to use emergency hotline 1199 for fire reporting.

Officials called for increased public vigilance and coordination among agencies to prevent future disasters.