SOS Call for Fire victims in Bong

The Superintendent of the Liberia Marketing Association- (LMA) Bong County Chapter has launched an appeal to philanthropic organizations to assist members of the association who were last week affected by a fire incidence in Gbarnga. 

Last week, fire gutted several business houses in the city and burnt some residential areas as well. 

The actual cause of the fire, which started in one of the houses just within the market, has not been established as state security continues investigation. 

Madam Viola Cooper told our Bong County correspondent that the fire disaster was a big set back to the marketers who were just trying to recover from the economic wounds of the Ebola crisis that left many people dead in the country. 

Madam Cooper said the business people – affected by the fire, will find it abundantly difficult to recover if they are not assisted by government and other good-will individuals and institutions. 

The Bong County LMA Superintendent has, however, called on those affected by the fire incidence to be calm as the leadership and others continue to cry for assistance for them. 

Madam Cooper added that the fire mysteriously spread before it was discovered in the building from which it started. 

The fire burnt more than five six other business houses and gutted the main Gbarnga Central Market before it was extinguished by motorcyclists, marketers and other concerned citizens. 

Some marketers nearby quickly packed their goods before the extension of the fire to their market tables. 

Since the incidence, many residents of Bong County have renewed calls for the government to empower the National Fire Service local office in the county to help respond to any situation of such. 

About a year ago when fire gutted stores on the main street of Gbarnga, Officers of the National Fire service were seen moving about the area without even a bucket against the fire. 

However, a response from UNMIL saw the fire off when the stores were already burnt down. 

By Papa Morris from Gbarnga, Bong County