Freetown, 12th April 2025 — The Government of Sierra Leone has confirmed that a fire broke out this afternoon at the State House, the official seat of the Presidency, located in Central Freetown.
According to an official statement from the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, the blaze was first reported around 4:00 p.m., with the fire originating on the 4th Floor of the West Wing and subsequently spreading to the 3rd Floor.
“The National Fire Force and other emergency response teams were immediately alerted and deployed to the scene,” said the Ministry stated. “As of 7:30 p.m., firefighting operations are still ongoing, but the spread has been largely contained within the affected floors.”
Multiple government agencies, including the Sierra Leone Police, Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, the Office of National Security, and the Guma Valley Water Company, have been mobilized to support the emergency response.
“The quick coordination among state institutions reflects our commitment to safeguarding national assets and ensuring public safety,” the Ministry added.
Crucially, the Office of the President, situated on the 2nd Floor, remains unaffected. “We want to assure the public that the Office of the President is secure and has not been impacted by the fire,” the Ministry emphasized.
While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, the government is calling for public calm.
“We urge citizens to stay calm and avoid speculation. Accurate and timely information will be shared through official channels,” the Ministry stated.
Further updates will be provided as more details become available.
