SAYE TOWN UNDER FIRE: The community before the fire disaster was densely populated consisting of sq uatters and renters. For some time now, the Community has been taken over by Zinc and Mat houses that were jammed up with no alleys in between. One could sit on the doorstep of their house, and look into the other person’s house or room.
Saye Town, Monrovia -
Madam Korto Johnny is left with nothing. All she ever worked for vanished into thin air Sunday night, courtesy of a massive fire which struck the Saye Town Community and rendered several residents homeless.
“I was not able to take out my market money. I just collected L$4000, 00 and US$10.00 along with two call phones, Television, Bed, Dresser and furniture. Everything left in the fire, but I thank God for our lives,” the marketer explained to a reporter shortly after the fire.
The unforeseen disaster left over 20 structures damage, and hundreds of people homeless.
Madam Korto explained that the fire started around 8 p.m., while she was getting ready for bed. “I heard people shouting outside and telling us to get outside because fire war burning the house. By the time I came outside, I saw the fire coming from the Kpelle People house, and it had caught our own. I ran inside and quickly collected my sister’s children and few things that I could get my hands on and ran outside.”
The unforeseen disaster left over 20 structures damage, and hundreds of people homeless.
The community before the fire disaster was densely populated consisting of squatters and renters. For some time now, the Community has been taken over by Zinc and Mat houses that were jammed up with no alleys in between. One could sit on the doorstep of their house, and look into the other person’s house or room.
The Saye Town Community is located behind the Green Land Supermarket and extending to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on 3rd Street in Sinkor.
Standing on the road side near the ECO Bank Office in Sinkor, were two ladies with three children who had managed to grab a few bundles of clothes and anything they could possibly lay their hands on when the fire started. One of them was Madam Korto.
‘Have to start over’ - Only able to takeout displaced bags
Two children whose home was engulfed in the blaze await help.
The depressed marketer said: “I heard it was the Kpelle people son called Oppan who came home drunk and went to sleep and left the candle on and it fell on the floor mat than it caught the mattress. This is how the fire started to spread and caught our house. Nothing happen to him, they got him out before the fire could get worse”. I am standing on the road because; I have called some of my people to come for us to spend the night because we don’t have anywhere to go.”
Mrs. Agnes Karmo, another victim says she was renting a room for US$5.00 in the house that got burnt. “I was only able to take out two displaced bags along with my three children. I have lose, because I left over L$25,000 and some goods worth over L$15,000, so I will just have to start life over.”
Asked how many houses was burnt, Karmo answered; “The house were more than twenty, because they were all jammed up together so the fire didn’t waste time to catch the other houses. We have plenty mat and Zinc houses that are quick to burn, so the least mistake you make to keep candle on, you will harm other people.”
‘Friend is crying’
UNMIL fire service truck arrived on the scene and was instrumental in putting out the fire. Although the fire truck ran out of water in the process.
Madam Karmo also disclosed that her next door neighbor was looking for her son who had just taken surgery. “My friend is crying and looking for her big son, who had just taken surgery. She said she left her son in the room to go and buy bread on the road, but upon her arrival, she saw the whole place in flame, so she does not know if he left in and got burn or someone took him out.”
UNMIL fire service truck arrived on the scene and was instrumental in putting out the fire. Although the fire truck ran out of water in the process.
For one night at least resident were thankful that UNMIL were the saviors for the night. As a reporter left the scene, a Red Cross Ambulance was waiting and calling for wounded people to get on board.
All across the scenes engulf in the blaze were antsy residents looking for answers and a bit of hope. Madam Karmo said she called some of relatives to come and help because she and others had nowhere else to go. “I don’t have anywhere to sleep. We want the government to help us because we have no place to go.
Reporter Mae Azango can be reached at mazango@FrontPageAfrica.com or 077-545-960.
