Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu Deputy Echo Editor
BULAWAYO was left stunned on Monday night after a fierce blaze gutted Nash Takeaway at the corner of 4th Avenue and Herbert Chitepo Street following a suspected explosion triggered by a power surge.
According to Bulawayo Chief Fire Officer, Nhlangano Moyo, the fire erupted soon after electricity was restored, tearing through the busy city centre eatery and leaving it in ruins.
“The Nash Takeaway shop was severely burnt this time. Previously, we managed to contain the fire with minimal damage,” said Moyo. “However, there was a delay in calling the brigade, and the premises did not have a security guard.”
Preliminary investigations suggest that when power was restored after an outage, an explosion occurred, igniting four 19kg gas cylinders which then fuelled the blaze.
“Our investigation is that soon after power was restored, something exploded and the fire caught four 19kg gas cylinders, which later fuelled the fire heavily,” said Moyo.
Firefighters battled towering flames as leaking liquefied petroleum gas intensified the inferno. The fire briefly spread to a neighbouring bed and mattress shop before being contained.
“The intensity of the fire was heavy due to the presence of LPG. The fire also spread to the neighbouring bed and mattress shop, but we managed to contain it with minimal damage,” said Moyo.
By the time the fire brigade arrived, the structure was already engulfed in smoke and flames. “It was a difficult task to gain access, and the building was already smoke-filled with flames on the roof,” he added.
No injuries were reported, but the once-bustling takeaway — which had previously survived a smaller fire — now lies charred and gutted.
Moyo urged business owners to display contact details on their premises for quick communication during emergencies. “We continue to conscientise property owners to display their numbers so that in cases like this, we can easily reach them,” he said.
The full extent of the losses is still being assessed as investigations continue.
