Mlolongo residents wake up to a disastrous firestorm. Mavoko fire emergency response team fail to contain the fire.[Photo/The standard]
Over 70 business houses have been reduced to ashes in Mlolongo, Machakos County leaving traders counting losses worth millions of shillings.
Those affected by the fire took to the streets barricading Mombasa road in the roughly one-hour protest early Wednesday.
A 5 AM inferno razed down property in Mlolongo where no property, most of which were business premises, was salvaged from the firestorm as residents were not able to contain the quickly spreading fire.
It is alleged that the fire could have been triggered by a gas cylinder explosion from the point at which one of the business people run a gas cylinder supplying business.
According to an eyewitness, Richard Mulwa, the Mavoko fire response team took long to respond fighters did not respond prompting the Nairobi firefighters to intervene but it was too late.
“Mavoko’s fire brigade is stationed just five kilometers from Mlolongo town. It is a shame that they failed to help us,” said Mulwa.
The residents fault the Mavoko fire brigade which is stationed 5kilometers from Mlolongo town for failing to respond at all.
Mavoko firefighters said the fire engine was stalled and had no fuel thus they were not in the position to help. It is said the fire engine has been in that status for months now.
Agitated residents took to the street protesting over laxity by the county government of Machakos to respond to such emergencies. They attempted to close the busy Nairobi-Mombasa highway were thwarted by police officers and two protesters were arrested.