Africa-Press – Liberia. Nyanneh told FrontPage Africa that the building, which housed valuable items and furniture, was severely damaged.
A fire outbreak at the Ocean Drive Beach on Tubman Boulevard, Sinkor, Monrovia, destroyed one of the buildings owned by Mr. Wilson T. Nyanneh, causing an estimated US$600,000 in damages. Mr. Nyanneh attributed the fire to a faulty Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) breaker that tripped, leading to an electrical fault.
Ocean Drive Beach, located in the Fish Market area, is just minutes away from the home of former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. According to Mr. Nyanneh, the fire started around 4 p.m. on Sunday, and despite rapid efforts from his team, the LEC, and the fire service, the building was quickly engulfed in flames.
Nyanneh told FrontPage Africa that the building, which housed valuable items and furniture, was severely damaged. “We did our best, and the fire service and LEC responded, but the damage was extensive,” he said, estimating the property’s value at approximately US$600,000.
Despite the loss, Mr. Nyanneh expressed gratitude to those who assisted in battling the blaze and emphasized the importance of timely action in preventing such disasters. He announced that the property will be closed for three days for cleanup and an investigation, after which it will resume operations.
Prior Electrical Issues
Nyanneh recounted that his management team had previously reported issues with the LEC fuse. “We called the LEC team four days ago concerning our breaker, and they promised to come and fix it, but they never showed up until this happened,” he explained.
He further mentioned that on the day of the fire, he was at church after confirming with the facility manager that the LEC team was on their way. However, they never arrived, and the situation escalated. “When I returned from church, I got a call from the manager saying the LEC didn’t show up, and by then, the fire had already started.”
FrontPage Africa was unable to get LEC response.
Efforts to Contain the Fire
Upon arriving at the facility, Mr. Nyanneh attempted to cut the power in an effort to contain the fire, along with other managers and staff. Despite their best efforts, the fire continued to spread. “The fire had already progressed significantly by the time the LEC arrived to cut the power,” he said, emphasizing the need for quicker response times in such emergencies.
Community Response and Gratitude
Mr. Nyanneh expressed deep gratitude to the local community, particularly the youth, who helped control the fire before the fire service arrived. “They used buckets to try and put out the flames,” he said, praising the community’s quick response.
Though the damage was extensive, Mr. Nyanneh remains hopeful. He thanked everyone who came to his aid and expressed his faith in God for helping him through the crisis. “I am grateful for the support, and I have strong faith that we will rebuild and continue our work,” he added.
He also stressed the importance of community solidarity and timely intervention in preventing future incidents. Despite the estimated US$600,000 loss, Mr. Nyanneh is committed to rebuilding and continuing his investment in Liberia.
“I thank everyone for their support and express hope for a positive outcome,” he said, underscoring the need for proper maintenance and quicker responses to electrical and other emergency issues to avoid such tragedies in the future.
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