A fire at the State House in Freetown on Saturday caused damage to offices connected to Hon. Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, according to a statement from his personal assistant, Ibrahim Lansana.

While Dr. Yumkella’s primary office room was spared from the flames, it sustained water damage from firefighting efforts. Mr. Lansana confirmed that Dr. Yumkella’s computers, documents, files, and other materials remain “safe and undamaged.”

However, the fire inflicted significant damage to adjacent offices. Dr. Yumkella’s conference room, along with the offices of Mr. Lansana and Dr. Yumkella’s confidential secretary, were “totally burnt down.” The office of Dr. Martin Gbonda, the Director of Ministerial Coordination, was also destroyed in the blaze. Mr. Lansana reported that “nothing was saved” from these rooms.

The fire, which broke out on the 4th floor of the West Wing of the State House, prompted a large-scale emergency response. Firefighters worked to contain the blaze, with support from multiple government agencies.

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Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the fire. In the aftermath, there is a focus on assessing the damage and supporting those affected.

Ibrahim Lansana expressed solidarity with colleagues impacted by the fire, stating, “We continue to extend our heartfelt support and solidarity to all colleagues affected by the fire incident, and we fully support the ongoing investigation to determine its cause.”