AYV News, April 15, 2025
Sierra Leone’s Chief Fire Officer, Nazir Ahmad Alie Kamanda Bongay, has said Preliminary Investigations have revealed that the severe fire outbreak at the Office of the President (State House) over the weekend was caused by electrical malfunction.
Speaking to AYV, Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah said the government has been informed that the State House Fire was a result of the malfunctioning of an electrical appliance, which started on the 3rd floor of the House and spilled over to the 4th floor, causing severe damage to the House.
Earlier, Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh conducted an on-site inspection of the recent fire incident at the State House, where he received detailed briefing from the Chief Fire Officer and key personnel on the emergency response measures undertaken and a preliminary assessment of the damage.
He inspected the third and fourth floors of the building, where the damage is most severe, and also visited the Office of the President on the second floor.
Following the inspection, the Vice President convened a high-level Interagency Response Team. This team comprises representatives from various critical sectors including law enforcement agencies, engineering experts, the Ministry of Works and Public Assets, the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA), and other relevant institutions.
The newly formed Response Team has been tasked with the crucial responsibilities of:
• Conducting a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the fire.
• Assessing the full extent of infrastructural and operational damage.
• Developing clear and actionable recommendations for recovery and restoration.
The Vice President will chair daily situation briefings with the Response Team, underscoring the government’s commitment to a swift and effective response. An initial report from the team is expected within one week.
Speaking to the media, concern citizens emphasized the need for accountability and preventive measures: “This is a matter of national importance. We must understand what happened, why it happened, and how it can be prevented in the future. We are calling for a thorough investigation and forensic audit to determine the root cause and ensure such an incident does not reoccur.”
Though no casualties have been reported, the incident has raised concerns about fire safety measures in critical government infrastructure, the government has assured the public that it will continue to provide timely updates as the situation unfolds and the recovery efforts progress.
