- Counting Economic Losses
By Sulaiman Stom Koroma
Sierra Leone has recorded over 201 fire outbreaks from January to March 2025, leading to serious economic losses and leaving hundreds of people homeless. Recent statistics from the Sierra Leone Fire Force show that the Western Area recorded 119, the Southern Region 35, the North-East Region 19, the North-West Region 6 and the Eastern Region 32 incidences.
According to the National Disaster Management Agency, one major fire outbreak in Makaintay Village destroyed 21 houses and left 245 people homeless. Just a day later, another fire in Kenema District burned down 19 more houses. These back-to-back incidents show how widespread the problem is becoming.
The National Fire Force revealed that the Western Region, which includes Freetown, was hit the hardest. Out of the 201 total fire incidents across the country, 119 occurred in the Western Region. In April alone, Freetown recorded 15 more fire outbreaks, including the outbreaks at State House and the 34 Military Hospital.
The NDMA say these fires are costing the country a lot of money. “The Government of Sierra Leone has a responsibility to respond to the rising number of cases. When destruction occurs and over 100 properties are damaged or destroyed, the government is compelled to intervene. This, in turn, results in increased government expenditure,” said Mohamed L. Bah from the National Disaster Management Authority.
The National Fire Force is also facing many challenges in responding to these emergencies. Bintu Fatmata Kamara, the Legal Officer and Public Relations Officer of the Fire Force explained, “One of the challenges faced by the Fire Force is limited access to certain communities due to narrow streets. In such cases, they are forced to rely on alternative road networks, as their vehicles cannot pass through these tight areas, which delays their response time during emergencies.”
Many citizens are now calling for a full-scale investigation into the cause of the fires. A growing number of people believe that power surges and voltage problems from the electricity distribution agency, EDSA, may be responsible for some of the outbreaks, especially those in Freetown.
Mary is a businesswoman who lost everything, including money, up to a hundred million old Leones ” I don’t know where to start from or what to say; everything I have worked for, including my business money, is no more; I am just helpless”. She said
As the outbreaks continue to worriedly increase, both the economic impact and the safety of citizens are laid bare as the public is urging the government to take immediate steps to improve fire safety, investigate possible causes, and support those affected by the disasters. But with the Statehouse now calling for an investigation into its own fire outbreak, the public is baffled as to who they should turn to next.
Meanwhile, the rising fire outbreaks have not only left families displaced but have also affected businesses and schools. People believe that the NDMA and Fire Force should improve their fire safety awareness to the public.
