Fire team reveals why it failed to rescue trapped family of six

 

In Summary

The team finally arrived at the scene at 6.30 in the morning and found nothing to save.

Dar es Salaam. The fire brigade yesterday explained their failure to combat the fire that gutted a house on Friday night at Kipunguni area in the city, killing six members of the same family.

According to a press release from the brigade, it said information about the fire was delayed and did not specify the location, leading their crew in a wild goose chase to get to the scene.

“Unfortunately the entire house had already been reduced to ashes by the time the team made their own efforts to get to the venue,” said the fire brigade’s spokesperson Ms Puyo Nzalayaimis.

They said the neighbours first rung the central police who then rung the fire’s emergency number. The call was reportedly received by the Bagamoyo rescue team who then alerted rescuers in Temeke station at 5.30 am, almost two hours later.

The Temeke team according to the statement responded in a minute but they had no exact information of the scene and they got lost on the way before resolving to go to a nearby police station for assistance.

The team finally arrived at the scene at 6.30 in the morning and found nothing to save. Retired Army Captain and the owner of the house Mr David Mpira, died in the accident alongside his wife Celina Mpira, their son Lucas Mpira, two granddaughters Celina Emmanuel, 9, and Paulina Emmanuel, 5, and Mr Samweli Yegera a brother to Mrs Mpira.

“The operation became difficult after the neighbours delayed to pass information to authorities and the fact that the victims were asleep when it all started. When the rescuers got there the fire was almost off and they had to only get in to recover the bodies,” reads the statement in part.

“We plead to Tanzanians that on an event of a fire they should immediately ring our emergency line which is 114 and provide clear directions for us to respond promptly,” said Ms Nzalayaimis. She also adivised households to make sure their houes have an emergency door and easily accessible windows.

Ms Nzalayaimis said that the neighbours efforts to rescue the deseased could not work due to the house lacking an emergency door while grills in the door and windows also limited their will of helping out.

Meanwhile, the bodies of the deceased are set to be laid to rest today at the Air Wing grave yard, and according to family spokesperson Mr Patrick Yegela all prayers will be held at the graveyard from 2 pm after the arrival of the bodies from Muhimbili National Hospital.