KAKATA, Margibi – The Karkpeh Town community in Kakata was a scene of chaos when the home of prominent businessman Adullah Kromah in Kakata was gutted by fire around 7:45 p.m. on Sunday evening.

The fire destroyed the entire roof of the house and almost all the personal belongings, including essential documents of the occupants of the house. Additionally, Kromah reported losing an unknown amount of cash.

Explaining his ordeal, Kromah said he returned home about 15 minutes after the fire outbreak and was informed that the fire started in one of the rooms of the house while his wife and children were watching a movie in another room.

Although the cause of the fire has not been fully established, Kromah said it was likely started by mosquito coils, which his family frequently used.

“The children usually light mosquito [coils] in the house during the night and I think it might be the cause of the fire because if it was electrical, the generator would have gone off,” Kromah said.

Kakata has witnessed series of fire incidents in recent years with little or no account of the circumstances surrounding the incidents. Early this year, a 10-room local guest house in the same vicinity was gutted by fire and the authorities have not yet determined the cause.

Many residents are calling on the government to be proactive in protecting lives and properties. According to the 2008 census, the district around Kakata has 89,000 residents, however, there are only three officers assigned to the Liberia National Fire Service depot in the area. Moreover, officers report lacking the logistical support needed to service the population.

Featured photo by Emmanuel Degleh