Online Reporter
Solomon Bhumu
Post Reporter
A VICIOUS fire broke out earlier today at Brooms Garage in the Riverside area, reducing at least 30 vehicles, valued at several thousand dollars, to charred shells.
The garage, which specializes in Mercedes-Benz vehicles, was engulfed in flames after a fire reportedly started during a routine litter-clearing operation by Mutare City Council workers.
The devastating inferno at Brooms Garage has left owner Mr Anesu Akim reeling from a massive loss.
Overwhelmed and visibly shaken, Mr Akim was unable to grant an immediate interview as he struggled to come to terms with the extent of the damage.
It could not be immediately established if the garage and damaged vehicles were insured, to mitigate the financial blow.
One of the workers at the garage, Mr Nomore Simnago said they made every effort to extinguish the flames, but were ultimately overpowered.
The City of Mutare Fire Brigade responded swiftly, however, by the time they arrived, dozens of vehicles had already been destroyed.
“We tried everything to douse the fire and prevent it from spreading to the garage, but our efforts were in vain. We were overpowered by the fire, and in the end, we watched helplessly as it inflicted damage on the property. This is really sad, and we never imagined this,” he said.
Ms Chipo Gondo, a vendor at a nearby market, who witnessed the incident, said the fire began when two municipal employees burned a pile of litter, which quickly spread out of control to the nearby dry grass.
She said they attempted to stop the council workers from igniting the fire, only to be dismissed.
Ms Gondo said the fire then encroached on the garage, where one vehicle first caught fire before triggering a chain reaction that spread to the other vehicles.
“They ignored the warning we gave them, and moments later, the flames spread rapidly towards the garage, leading to the disaster. This could have been avoided had the took heed to our advice,” she said.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, one of the council workers involved in the cleanup that led to the disaster, admitted that they had been assigned to clear the area.
He claimed his colleague lit the fire and fled the scene upon realising it had spread to the garage, and inflicted the damage.
