MONROVIA, LIBERIA – The city of Monrovia is reeling from a devastating fire outbreak that occurred on Sunday evening, engulfing the residence of Liberia’s House Speaker, Cllr. Johnathan Fonati Koffa. Eyewitnesses recount the harrowing incident, stating that the fire, which originated from the back of the house in the Rehab Community, quickly spread uncontrollably.
Efforts to extinguish the flames were made by both neighbors and the Liberia Fire Service, but unfortunately, they were unable to bring the fire under control. The cause of the fire remains unknown at this time.
Fortunately, Speaker Fonati Koffa and his family were safely evacuated from the scene, and no casualties have been reported. However, the Speaker’s home continued to blaze well into the early hours of Monday morning, causing significant damage.
In a shocking twist, Spoon Network reported that the fire outbreak at Speaker Koffa’s residence may be linked to a maintenance personnel named Ben, who was working in the theater within the house when the fire broke out. The whereabouts of Ben are currently unknown, and the Liberia National Police have launched a manhunt to locate him.
Curiously, it has been discovered that the Speaker’s home is connected to a dedicated private transformer instead of the general lines of the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC). This raises questions about how the fire outbreak could be attributed to a power outage. Experts warn that if the LEC lines, which have recently been reinforced with an additional 25 megawatts from Ivory Coast, are not properly regulated, there is an unprecedented risk of further fire outbreaks in and around Monrovia.
These recent incidents have ignited concerns among experts, who believe that the power currently enforced from Cote D’Ivoire has not been adequately broken down, potentially leading to continued fire outbreaks across Monrovia and its environs. There has been no evidence of this assertion.
In the past weeks, Monrovia has witnessed several fire incidents, including the destruction of six houses in the densely populated Township of West Point. Additionally, fires have occurred in Central Monrovia, Old Road, Paynesville, the Garnesville community, and Bushrod Island, resulting in the destruction of properties worth thousands of dollars and displacing numerous citizens.
As the investigation into the fire outbreak at Speaker Fonati Koffa’s residence continues, authorities are urged to prioritize the regulation of power lines and take necessary measures to prevent future fire disasters in the city.
