Sierra Leone State House in Flames
State House | April 12, 2025
FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE: State House Inferno. On April 12, 2025, the last bastion of Sierra Leone civilization was up in smoke.
Situated in the heart of Freetown on State Avenue in Tower Hill, the State House serves as the official residence of the president of Sierra Leone. It also houses the offices of the president, senior presidential staff, and associates.
The fire broke out at approximately 4:00 p.m. today on the 4th floor of the West Wing, engulfing the offices of Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella and Press Secretary Yusuf Keketoma Sandi, according to initial reports.
The National Fire Force and law enforcement agencies were notified. Four hours later, the fire was brought under control and an investigation is currently in progress. The exact cause of the fire remains unknown. Please refresh the page later for more updates.
The Ministry of Information and Civic Education issued a statement and urging the public to remain calm.
“The Ministry of Information and Civic Education.”
Ironically, Julius Maada Bio, the President of the Republic, was abroad attending a three-day forum from April 11 to April 14. This forum, the 4th Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF2025), was organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye.
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“The rampant vandalism of government infrastructure in Sierra Leone has led to the ‘Adopt a Community’ initiative: Neighborhood Crime Watch.”
As the fires sweep through Sierra Leone with increasing intensity, it is alarming to see the absence of any effective safety measures and public awareness to protect communities and prevent further devastation.
A preliminary investigation has revealed that the reckless behavior of certain individuals led to the death of one person and property damage at the Shalimar Building Fire in Waterloo, located on the outskirts of Freetown. This incident occurred around 1:00 AM on the night of Sunday|Monday, April 13-14.
The Video and Interview, the morning after:
Then, on the morning of Tuesday, April 15, 2025, a fire occurred at the complex of the 34 Military Hospital Medical Store — The Video.
In the early hours of Tuesday, April 15, 2023, a fire gutted the medical facility of the government '34 Military Hospital,' which is currently undergoing an upgrade. The facility houses medical supplies.
Information reaching this outlet is said to be under investigation.
This incident underscores the alarming rise in fire outbreaks throughout Sierra Leone, highlighting critical concerns about public safety, infrastructure resilience, and emergency preparedness.
“Information and Civic Education Minister Chernor Bar provided an update on the State House fire that occurred on Saturday, April 12, 2025.”
Theo Edwards for YAME Digital