A Kitale-based businessman is counting losses worth millions of shillings following a Wednesday morning fire incident.
The owner of Premkar Hardware in Trans Nzoia County lost hardware materials whose value runs into millions in the inferno whose cause is not yet established.
What caused Premkar hardware fire?
Dennis Simiyu Nyongesa, a member of staff at the hardware and one of the first people who responded to the fire outbreak said the fire could have been caused by a generator.
“We were downstairs and then we heard a loud bang from the first floor and when we went upstairs, the generator was on fire and spread so fast that we could not contain using our fire extinguishers,” Simiyu said.
Simiyu was injured on his right hand, neck and around his mouth. He has since been attended to and discharged.
Following the fire outbreak, Trans Nzoia County fire officers rushed to the scene and fought the fire that consumed bags of cement, paints, mattresses and other materials.
A private water boozer, backhoe loader and exhauster truck were also engaged to put off the fire.
The officers later received support from their Uasin Gishu and West Pokot counterparts. First Aiders from the Kenya Red Cross, police officers, as well as Trans Nzoia County enforcement officers, were at the scene.
Trans Nzoia County asked to make emergency response services swift
Speaking to Uasin Gishu News, Titus Kilong’i, the chairperson of Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) called on the County government of Trans Nzoia to make emergency recovery services more efficient as well as installation of water points at strategic places.
“While we appreciate the fire officers’ response time, we need them to be more efficient in terms of response. We also need proper and working water points so that we don’t waste time going to get water in times of emergencies like this,” Kilong’i said.
His sentiments were echoed by Martin Shikuku, the chairman of furniture traders who said it was possible to contain the fire in good time had there been a working water point around the business premise.
“The fire engine came, tried to put off the fire and water was depleted. It had to go back, refill and back again. By this time, the fire had spread rapidly,” Shikuku stated.
In addition, Philip Nabwera called on Governor George Natembeya’s administration to acquire more fire brigades to help in times of emergencies.
He lauded the collaboration between the County Governments of Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu and West Pokot.
Investigation to establish the exact cause of the fire has been launched.
