By Saio Marrah
Just a week after the first fire outbreak at Wilberforce Barracks in Freetown left an apartment damaged, another fire incident has occurred at the same barracks leaving a whole block of apartments destroyed, and at least 36 families without shelter.
The latest fire outbreak occurred on Friday 20th January 2023 close to the main electrical transformer that supplies power to the military barracks. Up to Saturday night the whole area was plunged in darkness.
Politico was at the scene on Saturday morning and was informed by the Commander Joint Force of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, Major-General Dauda Fred Alpha, that it is demoralizing to the military and that they do want that to happen again.
This he said is the reason they have decided to do a massive sensitization and that they will embark on house to house checks in relation to electrical connections.
He said it is understood that there were lots of inappropriate connections using substandard materials.
In that regard, he said the Barracks Service Maintenance Unit (BSMU) will be given the task of checking on all connections.
Gen. Alpha said investigation was ongoing to determine what caused the fire.
Apart from the quick fix arrangements they had put in place for the fire affected families, he noted that they have decided to demolish what was left of the affected structures, so they can erect brand new ultra-modern housing that will fit the soldiers’ status.
On the issue of congestion of the barracks with families of military personnel, he said an order had been passed to ensure they decongest and sanitize the barracks.
He said all children that have attained the age of 18 and above will be sent out of the facility and that military personnel, their wives and two children are the only people that will be allowed to stay per apartment.
The officer said if it is discovered that those sent away make a return, strong action will be taken against them.
The Director General of National Disaster Management Agency, Retired Lieutenant- General Brima Bureh Sesay also told Politico that even though they are yet to establish cause for the fire, there was no cooking at the time of the outbreak in the evening hours of Friday.
He said it a cause for serious concern and that it is reason they have had an engagement with military commanders to embark on sensitization of their personnel within the barracks.
The former Chief of Defence Staff said they are now registering the affected families to ensure they provide temporary accommodation, mattresses, and other items, for the affected soldiers and their families.
He said there have been series of reports about fire outbreaks across the country, but more especially within Freetown and its surroundings, citing Funkiya in Goderich, Susan’s Bay, and Aberdeen as settlements affected.
Copyright © 2023 Politico Online (23/01/23)
