Man killed in fire outbreak at Sawla

A devastating fire outbreak in the Sawla Sindaa electoral area of the Savannah region has claimed the life of an elderly man, Nmei Sam, believed to be in his 80s.

The incident occurred on Saturday, November 23, 2024.

According to eyewitnesses, Sam lived alone in his room without electricity, making it unclear what could have caused the fire.

Despite a swift response from firefighters, they faced challenges in extinguishing the blaze due to the faulty state of the Sawla District fire tender, which had been out of commission for over a month.

Firefighters were forced to use motorcycles to reach the scene and rely on water from nearby homes to douse the flames.

The cause of the fire remains unknown and is pending an investigation.

Sawlawura Abdulai Nungbaso, the chief of Sawla, has appealed to residents to exercise caution as the harmattan season sets in, bringing dry and windy conditions that can exacerbate fires.

He also urged the government to repair the faulty fire tender to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

The deceased has been released to his family for burial according to Vagla tradition.