By Millicent Senava Mannah
The Chief Fire Officer of the National Fire Force (NFF), Nazir Kamanda Bongay, has detailed the substantial challenges faced by the National Fire Force in executing its mission of preventing and managing fire accidents within the country. This revelation came during the 2024 Budget hearing, which took place on October 11, 2023, in the Conference Room of the Ministry of Finance in Freetown.
Bongay emphasized that the force is grappling with inadequate budgetary allocations for its critical operations, hindering its capacity to function as a vital public safety establishment. Moreover, insufficient funding for emergency activities, including the immediate repair of fire engines, significantly hampers the department’s operational effectiveness.
He pointed out that the scale of fire and burn issues in Sierra Leone is substantial, annually resulting in fatalities, injuries, the displacement of hundreds of people, and multimillion-dollar losses in terms of human lives, property and business. This collective impact represents an economic burden of approximately 1 to 2% of the country’s GDP.
Bongay cited informal construction and settlements as particularly challenging issues, as they are more susceptible to rapid fire growth and spreading. Such areas, like Kroo Bay and Susan’s Bay, often lead to the displacement of numerous residents, even when casualties are minimal.
The Chief Fire Officer provided an overview of the current state of the Force revealing that it comprises only 427 dedicated staff who work in demanding conditions with limited resources and equipment. He stressed that the Force faces a severe shortage of firefighters, personnel, engines, equipment, and firefighting chemicals, hindering their ability to respond effectively to fire incidents across the nation.
Bongay stated, “The available equipment for firefighting, search and rescue operations falls short of what is required to efficiently carry out our mission of saving lives and protecting properties threatened by fire incidents.”
He underscored the daunting national task that the Force confronts—responding to emergencies with a severely restricted capacity.
