Post a comment 
A devastating fire outbreak on Friday night, July 18, has left not less than eight people homeless in the Prison Road area along the Lungi Highway, Port Loko.
The incident, which occurred around 8:00 PM, destroyed a six-room and parlor house belonging to the Bangura family, and has prompted urgent calls for the establishment of a dedicated Fire Force unit in the region.
Eyewitnesses report that the fire broke out between 7:00 and 8:00 PM at the rear end of the building. With no fire service readily available in the region, the blaze quickly engulfed the house, consuming everything in its path before residents and neighbors could mount any meaningful response.
“This house was built by our late father,” lamented Saffiatu Bangura, one of the victims of the inferno. “All our memories, our inheritance, our livelihood—gone in minutes.”
The Bangura family suffered severe losses in the fire, including over NLe 24,500 in cash, three bags of rice, a freezer, a plasma TV, a computer, a tablet, and important school belongings. Kadiatu Isatu Bangura, a student at the Port Loko School of Nursing, lost her educational materials.
Unisa Remon Bangura, elder brother of the family, made a heartfelt plea to the local authorities: “We are calling on the Mayor, the District Council, and the Government of Sierra Leone to prioritize the establishment of a Fire Force unit in Port Loko. This is not just about our family—this is about preventing future tragedies. We also appeal to humanitarian organizations and philanthropists to come to our aid during this crucial moment.”
With no fire station nearby, the community was powerless to stop the blaze despite all efforts to do so. The fire has left not less than eight people without shelter, in need of urgent humanitarian support.
This incident has once again brought to the forefront the long-standing demand by residents of Port Loko for better emergency infrastructure. Despite being one of the largest districts in Sierra Leone, Port Loko still lacks a functional fire service, putting thousands of lives and properties at daily risk.
