Traders count losses after fire razes shops in Homa Bay

Homa Bay town residents battle a fire that erupted near Twin Towers Hotel, burning adjacent kiosks on January 30, 2019. PHOTO | GEORGE ODIWUOR | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The fire, which started at around 5 pm, spread to adjacent stalls, at the Homa Bay main market and some classes at the town’s Jamia Mosque.
  • Some residents used the opportunity to loot clothes and shoes from the burning stalls before officers from the Homa Bay Police Station intervened.

The Homa Bay County government’s ability to combat disaster was on Wednesday put to test after fire broke out next to a hotel owned by a top government official.

The fire, whose cause was not immediately established, consumed unknown number of stalls next to Homa Bay Town’s Twin Towers Hotel.

The fire, which started at around 5 pm, spread quickly to adjacent stalls, at the Homa Bay main market and some classes at the town’s Jamia Mosque.

Some residents used the opportunity to loot clothes and shoes from the burning stalls before officers from the Homa Bay Police Station intervened.

SAFER ROOMS

Youths, who used fire extinguishers and buckets of water had difficulties in trying to put out the fire that was fanned by strong evening winds.

Homa Bay town residents fetch water from a bore hole to battle a fire that erupted near Twin Towers Hotel on January 30, 2019. PHOTO | GEORGE ODIWUOR | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Workers at the two-storey building were ordered to relocate electronics, bedding and other items to safer rooms.

Motorists, whose cars were parked at the hotel basement, rushed to save their vehicles from being consumed by the fire.

A county government vehicle had to be lifted from the parking lot by the youths as its driver was nowhere to be seen.

FIRE ENGINE

County Secretary Isaiah Ogwe, Water Executive Dickson Nyawinda watched helplessly from the hotel balcony as youths tried to extinguish the fire, which was later put out by a water bowser owned by the county government.

Homa Bay town residents remove a fire extinguisher from Twin Towers Hotel to battle a fire that erupted near the facility on January 30, 2019. PHOTO | GEORGE ODIWUOR | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Some residents criticised the county government for not owning a fire engine.

“The bowser that was brought to extinguish the fire had low water pressure, we should be shown how out taxes are spent,” said a resident.