A fire broke out in the heart of Sierra Leone’s State House, located in the capital city of Freetown, on Saturday afternoon. Witnesses and government sources confirmed that the blaze started on the third and fourth floors of the presidential building, causing significant damage to documents and furniture. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported.
The fire began around 4:00 pm local time, sending thick plumes of black smoke into the air, which were visible for miles. Local resident Mohamed Kamara described seeing flames billowing from the building’s upper floors, while videos posted on social media captured the intensity of the fire. Firefighters worked tirelessly for five hours to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading further. A senior fire service official confirmed that the flames were eventually brought under control.
Despite the severity of the incident, the president’s office, located on the second floor, remained untouched by the fire. President Julius Maada Bio, who was not in Sierra Leone at the time, is currently in Turkey attending a conference. The government has stated that the cause of the fire remains unknown, and investigations are ongoing.
Security forces quickly responded to the incident, cordoning off the streets surrounding the State House and deploying personnel to ensure the safety of the area. The fire has raised concerns about the safety of government buildings, but the swift action of the firefighters and security teams helped mitigate the damage.
This unfortunate incident highlights the vulnerability of important government institutions to unforeseen disasters, but thankfully, there were no injuries or fatalities in the fire.
