Freetown, Sierra Leone – A preliminary investigation into the weekend’s fire disaster at the Office of the President, commonly known as State House, has confirmed that the incident was triggered by an electrical malfunction, according to the country’s Chief Fire Officer, Nazir Ahmad Alie Kamanda Bongay.
The blaze, which broke out on Saturday, is reported to have started on the third floor of the historic building and quickly spread to the fourth floor, causing significant damage to the structure.
Firefighters, supported by the Sierra Leone Police, Armed Forces, and the Guma Valley Water Company, managed to contain the fire after several hours. Notably, the President’s office on the second floor remained unaffected.
State House, located in the heart of Freetown, serves as the official workplace of the President of Sierra Leone and is a key symbol of governance in the country.
Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, speaking to Africa Young Voices (AYV), corroborated the fire chief’s report.
He confirmed that investigators believe the fire was caused by a faulty electrical appliance, though further assessments are ongoing.
In response to the emergency, Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh visited the site on Sunday evening to inspect the damage firsthand. He received a comprehensive briefing on the actions taken by emergency services and reviewed the initial findings regarding the extent of destruction.
Though no casualties have been reported, the incident has raised concerns about fire safety measures in critical government infrastructure.
Authorities have promised a full investigation to prevent a recurrence and to assess the impact on government operations.
This is one of the most serious fire outbreaks at the State House in recent history. Built during the colonial era, the State House has undergone several renovations over the years and remains a central administrative hub for the Presidency.
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