By Augustine Octavius
Wednesday’s fire that hit Central Monrovia has left over 50 people homeless and properties worth over US$5 million damaged in Monrovia commercial district of Randall Street, reports have said.
The Administrative Manager at the Power Tech, Siafa Rene disclosed that the fire started as a result of attempts by some people to steal current from the national power grid at a nearby furniture shop. Speaking in an interview with this Reporter, Rene explained that several generators, mining machines water pumps and other electrical heavy equipment were destroyed.
According to him, the battle to quench the fire took hours because mischief houses on were the alleys through which the trucks supposed to pass were occupied.
Secondly, Rene said most of the fire fighters who battled the fire were not equipped with necessary logistics to combat the fire which was burning on the roofing of four-story buildings.
The fire brought fire fighters from the Liberia National Fire Service, the United Nations Mission in Liberia and the Liberia Petroleum Refinery Corporation to quench huge fire.
Normal businesses on Randall Street were paralyzed for almost the whole of Wednesday.