Online Reporter
Raymond Jaravaza [email protected]
THREE people were rushed to a local hospital and treated for smoke inhalation on Tuesday afternoon after residential units on the first floor of a building along Lobengula Street were engulfed in thick smoke from a fire that started in a shop downstairs.
No serious injuries were recorded, although the fire caused substantial damage on three buildings that house Sai Mart supermarket, a butchery and a Chinese-owned shop that sells clothes, kitchen ware, and footwear, among an assortment of other wares.
A video captured by a passerby when the fire started shows a brave woman rushing to break a window next door and assisting her neighbour and a child escape the thick smoke that had engulfed their residential unit.
The Bulawayo Fire Brigade reacted swiftly to extinguish the blaze before it caused extensive damage to property or resulted in serious injuries and the loss of human life.
“We managed to stop the fire before it spread to two buildings on the left and right of where preliminary investigations indicate it started from,” Bulawayo chief fire officer, Mr Mhlangano Moyo, said.
“There is a corner at the rear of the middle building where there is extensive damage where all indications show that fire emanated from there but will know the exact cause of the blaze when our investigations are complete.
“Three people were taken to hospital after they managed to escape the fire and no serious injuries or fatalities were recorded,” he added.
Mr Moyo, however, bemoaned the late reporting of fires by residents who attempt to battle infernos on their own and only report to authorities when their attempts fail.
“Every second counts when a fire breaks out and it’s unfortunate that we received the call way after this Lobengula Street fire had started. In fact, the call came from a senior Government official yet residents or employees at the affected businesses could have called us immediately after they noticed that a fire had started,” he said.
“Every building owner, business owner and employees must know which number to call when a fire breaks out so that the fire brigade can respond quickly to save lives and property,” said Mr Moyo.
Two years ago the owner of an industrial complex in the city opted to drive to Famona Fire Station to report a blaze that had engulfed his business premises.
The fire brigade managed to save trucks and hay bales when its teams arrived at the scene although one vehicle had been burnt to a shell.
When the Zimpapers news crew arrived at the scene of the Lobengula Street in the afternoon firefighters supported by six fire engines were battling to prevent the blaze from spreading to neighbouring properties.
The fire caused panic in the city centre and brought business activities to a standstill as hundreds of curious onlookers gathered to watch firefighters battling the flames.
Chief fire officer Mr Moyo was also on site overseeing operations and coordinating emergency teams as they worked to bring the situation under control.
