Freetown, Sierra Leone – The National Fire Force has reported a sharp rise in fire incidents across the country, with 201 outbreaks recorded between January and March 2025.
Chief Fire Officer Nazir Kamanda Bongay shared the alarming statistics during a Ministry of Information and Civic Education press briefing on Tuesday.
According to the report, the Western Region topped the list with 119 fire incidents, followed by the Southern Region with 35, the Eastern Region with 32, the North-East with 19, and the North-West with 6.
In April alone, 15 more fire outbreaks have already been documented, including high-profile incidents at State House and the 34 Military Hospital. Preliminary investigations into these fires often point to electrical faults, with common causes including faulty appliances, substandard wiring, and poor electrical safety practices.
The fire that broke out on Saturday, April 13, further highlighted the growing concern. The National Fire Force received the alert at 3:05 p.m. and arrived on the scene within 15 minutes with two new fire engines. The blaze, which engulfed offices on the 3rd and 4th floors, took four hours to contain. Thankfully, no injuries were reported.
Director General of the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Brima Sesay, confirmed the upward trend in fire incidents, noting a shift from the building collapse cases that dominated 2024. Between January and April 2025, NDMA has recorded 78 fire outbreaks.
Sesay attributed the surge in fires largely to human negligence, urging the public to adopt safer practices such as turning off electrical appliances before leaving home.
He also announced a nationwide awareness campaign and encouraged citizens to report emergencies via the NDMA’s toll-free line 1199, available on all networks.
