The information ministry in Freetown, Sierra Leone say investigations are under way over Saturday’s fire incident at State House, which prompted a swift response from the fire brigade and law enforcers.
An initial public notice released by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, provided preliminary details about the outbreak.
As the seat of power, the building also houses the residence of the President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio who was in Turkey when the incident happened.
According to the statement, authorities received an alert at approximately 4:15 p.m. on Saturday regarding a fire at the State House. Initial information indicates that the fire originated around 4:00 p.m. on the 4th floor of the West Wing and subsequently spread to the 3rd Floor.
Firefighters were rapidly deployed to the scene and immediately began efforts to contain and extinguish the flames.
As of 7:30 p.m., the firefighting efforts were ongoing, and the government reported that the inferno’s spread had been limited to the affected floors and wings.
Multiple government agencies are actively supporting the response efforts, including the Office of National Security, the Sierra Leone Police, the army, and the Guma Valley Water Company.
Their specific roles in assisting the National Fire Force were not detailed in the initial update.
The cause of the fire remains unknown at this time.
The Office of the President, located on the 2nd Floor, has not been affected, and emergency teams are reportedly working diligently to ensure its continued protection.
The government urged the public to remain calm and rely on official channels for accurate and timely information.
This initial report confirms a significant incident at a key government building in the capital.
While the extent of the damage is still being assessed and the cause is under investigation, the prompt response of emergency services and the involvement of multiple agencies highlight the seriousness with which the situation is being treated.
The public awaits further information from official sources as the situation unfolds.
ABJ/APA