A devastating fire broke out in Kiambu Town on Sunday evening, just behind Petan Plaza, causing extensive damage to properties worth millions. The incident occurred just hours before midnight, leaving residents scrambling for safety as the flames spread with alarming speed.
The fire, which reportedly began around 9:20 pm, quickly escalated and spread to multiple buildings in the area. By the time the blaze was contained around 11 pm, it had already wreaked havoc, with the intense flames and thick smoke visible from a distance. The situation prompted immediate responses from various emergency services, including the Kenya Red Cross, Kenya Defence Forces, and the Kiambu County Fire Brigade. These agencies worked tirelessly to contain the fire and prevent further destruction.
Kiambu County Governor Kimani Wamatangi swiftly addressed the crisis through a social media post, confirming the fire incident and the deployment of the disaster management team. “This evening, a building in Kiambu Town caught fire. The Kiambu County Government’s disaster management unit was deployed to the scene. More updates to follow,” the governor wrote, assuring the public that authorities were actively working on the situation.
Footage and images shared online captured the scale of the fire, with some witnesses describing the scene as chaotic. The growing intensity of the flames left residents in distress, with some heard screaming as emergency responders battled to control the blaze. The rapid spread of the fire raised concerns among locals about the timeliness of the response. Several residents pointed out that had help arrived earlier, the damage could have been mitigated, and the destruction might have been less severe.
As emergency teams fought to bring the situation under control, the community’s fears were palpable. Eyewitnesses who had witnessed the event firsthand expressed their relief when the fire was finally extinguished, but the damage had already been done. The economic impact of the destruction is yet to be fully calculated, but initial estimates suggest that millions of shillings worth of property have been lost.
Authorities have confirmed that investigations are underway to determine the cause of the fire. At present, no casualties have been reported, and the focus remains on identifying how the fire began and whether there were lapses in safety measures that could have prevented the disaster.
As Kiambu town recovers from this tragic incident, residents continue to hope for swift resolutions and better preparedness for future emergencies.
