-Vice Pres Howard-Taylor visits scene
By Mafanta Kromah
Fire outbreaks hit the Liberian capital, Monrovia often, with the latest one hitting central Monrovia’s commercial district of Randall Street on Tuesday, causing a huge destruction of goods and other properties.
The cause of the fire has not yet been established, but the blaze left cloud of smoke covering parts of the center of the Liberian capital for several hours.
It comes less than a week after burnt down a dwelling home killing five persons in the Monrovia suburb of Congo Town.
The early morning fire engulfed the building of a popular company known for the sales of electric generators and other equipment, Power Tech and Eagle Electrical buildings.
The fire spread to adjacent apartments where some properties in homes were destroyed, but there is no report of casualties.
Eyewitnesses said the fire started at around 8am GMT from the power house of an electrical appliances warehouse between Randall and Mechlin Streets.
Power Tech Managing Director, Eli Nassim Ghandour described the incident as “disaster”, saying the company has incurred huge losses, but he said it was too early to state the exact cause of the damage.
Ghandour, a Lebanese businessman, said that until everything is put in order, they could not ascertain the cost of the materials and goods destroyed by the fire, describing the blaze as “too strong and very hard to handle.”
He however thanked the Liberia Fire Service Agency, the Liberia National Police, neighbors and other agencies that came to the rescue of his company as soon as they were called.
Janet Tulay, a maid in one of the adjacent residential buildings said she was working in the house when she saw a wire drop on the zinc of their warehouse and later saw that there was fire in the building.
Tulay said it was when she went to her boss to tell her about the fire at about 8am, all they could do was to leave the building and everything else in the fire except for the passport of her employers.
Firefighters refused to talk to the media on grounds that they were not in the position to say anything until the situation was put under control and their investigation as to what caused the blaze.
As firefighters and the police were busy trying to bring the fire under control, some looters trying to lay their hands on whatever goods they could reach amidst the blaze.
But the police were able to arrest few, while others escapade with their loot.
Later due to the intensity of the blaze, Liberian Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor came on the sense and expressed regret to the victims of the incident.
VP Taylor commended the firefighters, the police and neighbors for coming to the rescue of the victims when their assistance was needed.
She called for the incident to be investigated, in order to establish the cause of the fire.