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Mother, three children rescued from house fire in Mombasa

The aftermarth of an inferno that razed two warehouses in Kingorani area, Mombasa County on May 13, 2024. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein)

By Farhiya Hussein | Tuesday, May 14, 2024

In another devastating blaze, two warehouses in the Kingorani area of Mombasa were engulfed in flames, destroying electronic equipment and restaurant appliances worth millions of shillings.

A mother and her three children were rescued from a burning 12-room house in Shika Adabu area, near Inspiration School in Likoni, Mombasa on Monday night.

They were asleep when the fire broke out. The inferno started in the living room before spreading to the rest of the house.

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Police suspect the fire was caused by a cooking gas leak, as there was no electricity, however, investigations have been launched into the incident.

Neighbours together with the county's fire department aided in containing the fire.

In another devastating blaze, two warehouses in the Kingorani area of Mombasa were engulfed in flames, destroying electronic equipment and restaurant appliances worth millions of shillings.

The incident, which occurred around 11 pm prompted an immediate response from emergency services.

9-hour blaze

Mombasa County Fire Chief Officer, Ibrahim Basafar, stated the fire was huge, taking them from 11 pm to 8 am to contain it.

“The warehouse had numerous instances of poor maintenance, hindering our firefighters' access. We had to combat the blaze externally due to this challenge. The warehouse was poorly maintained and when we inquired they said it was used for recycling, but while in the warehouse we came across generators, furniture, fridges, and other electronic items," Ibrahim said.

"We had to call for backup from the Kenyan Navy and port fire services to assist with containing the fire.”

He said despite efforts by the Kenya Navy and Port Fire Services to control the inferno, it spread to a neighbouring warehouse used to store electronic items, further exacerbating the situation.

"We managed to salvage 10 per cent of the items from the second warehouse," Ibrahim said, highlighting the extensive damage.

The firefighting operation required substantial resources, with approximately 90,000 litres of water utilised in extinguishing the inferno.

"Our fire engine made four trips, while the water bowsers did two trips supported by others from the Navy and port," Ibrahim said.

Investigations into both incidents are ongoing, as authorities work to determine the root causes of the fires and assess the extent of the damage inflicted.