Published: October 18, 2024
GANTA – Sanniquillie, the capital of Nimba County, witnessed its first major fire incident late Tuesday night, just two weeks after the arrival of a new fire truck. The blaze originated from an old mud-built house on the city’s main street, quickly spreading to adjacent shops and stores, dangerously close to a local petroleum station owned by the well-known Nimba businessman, Tomah Seh Floyd.
Local youths, on their nightly stroll, first noticed smoke emanating from behind a popular entertainment center. Despite the timely alert, the fire inflicted substantial financial and material losses.
Delayed Response and Resource Challenges
The Liberia National Fire Service (LNFS) Nimba Command, although equipped with a new fire truck, faced hurdles as they arrived more than an hour after the fire had begun. They struggled with inadequate resources, notably the absence of necessary valves to access water from a nearby hydrant. This forced firefighters to fetch water from a creek, complicating their efforts to control the blaze.
Col. C. Terry Mahn, Nimba County Commander of the LNFS, admitted to the delays and attributed them to the key-related issues with the hydrant. “It’s true we arrived late, and that was because we couldn’t access the hydrant water quickly,” Mahn explained. He also highlighted ongoing efforts to educate the community on fire prevention and the importance of having fire extinguishers in homes and offices.
Local Businessman Voices Frustration
Marvis Geepea, proprietor of the Legacy Bar, which was severely affected, spoke of his dire situation, noting the devastating impact on his livelihood. “As you can see, I lost everything—my goods, my money, and the leased building. Now, with schools open, I’m at a loss about how to support my children’s education or restart my business,” Geepea said.
Geepea criticized the government for the perceived neglect of its citizens and rampant corruption among officials. He lamented the irony of government officials driving expensive vehicles while citizens like him suffer from inadequate social services. “It’s a shame. We need to focus as a country and ensure that the needs of the many, not just a few ministers and lawmakers, are met,” he added.
This incident follows several fires in Ganta, including one at a gasoline station on September 27, which also resulted in significant property damage. With the recent addition of a fire truck donated by businessman Tomah Seh Floyd, residents like Nancy Tiah of Ganta remain hopeful. “With this new fire truck, we hope the frequent fire incidents will diminish,” Tiah expressed.
Col. Mahn reassured that his team is better prepared to handle future fires and emphasized the community’s role in adhering to LNFS’s safety guidelines. He urged citizens to use the LNFS hotline immediately during fire outbreaks to prevent such tragedies.
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