Goods worth millions lost in Bata store fire

Property worth millions of shillings went up in smoke early Thursday when a Bata Shoe company depot along Mombasa's Biashara Street caught fire.

Firemen said the fire started on the second underground floor, making it difficult to battle the flames at the source.

The only way to access the fire was through a flight of stairs that was filled with dark smoke, said Mr Ahmed Kareka, a fireman from the Municipal Council of Mombasa.

The fire-fighters worked in shifts and had three engines and two extra water tankers on stand-by. But half of the water went to waste as the pipes were secured with rubber bands.

The firemen however braved the thick smoke to fight the fire, with the morning shift staff arriving just in time to relieve the night shift workers. Witnesses say the fire started at around 6am.

But depot manager Steven Biko said they noticed the fumes an hour later as they were cleaning in preparation for opening and immediately alerted the fire department who arrived within minutes.

Within minutes

“My colleague noticed the smoke coming from the basement and we then called the fire fighters,” said Mr Biko.

According to the manager, about Sh7 million worth of goods was stored in the basement floors. The depot is said to be the company’s main store in Mombasa.

Mombasa police boss Tom Odero blamed the delay in putting out the blaze on inadequate fire-fighting equipment.