Another huge fire at Glen View Area 8 Home Industry reignited fears over safety at one of Harare’s busiest informal industrial hubs after flames threatened to spill into nearby houses before firefighters contained the inferno.
The early Sunday morning blaze, which sent smoke billowing across the suburb, once again exposed the vulnerability of traders operating at the sprawling complex, where repeated fire outbreaks have increasingly become a source of anxiety for both business operators and surrounding residents.
The latest incident also renewed questions over fire preparedness and safety measures at informal industrial sites, particularly in densely populated areas where an inferno can quickly spread into surrounding residential neighbourhoods.
By this afternoon, the cause of the fire had not yet been established, with assessments still underway amid accusations and counter-accusations among some operators at the site over what may have triggered the blaze.
In an update today, the City of Harare said firefighters moved swiftly to stop the flames from spreading to nearby homes.
“The Fire Brigade this morning swiftly responded to yet another huge fire at Glen View 8 home industry and managed to control the inferno which threatened to spill over to the nearby houses,” said the City of Harare.
Related Stories
Emergency teams were deployed in the early hours of the morning, while additional water supplies were mobilised to sustain operations and avoid delays.
“Our fire tenders were dispatched in the early hours of this morning and we also mobilised bowsers of water from the Emergency Help Group to ensure our teams did not need to drive back to reload,” the city said.
The local authority said teams remained on the ground investigating possible causes of the fire.
“Our teams are still assessing what could have caused the fire amid accusations and counter accusations from those who operate from there,” the city added.
The city also commended firefighters and supporting partners for containing the blaze before it escalated further.
“Once again we would want to thank our fire brigade for a sterling job and the Emergency Help Group for providing water tankers,” said the City of Harare.
Today’s inferno adds to growing concern over recurring fires at informal industrial spaces, where congestion and operating conditions continue to expose traders to devastating losses.
Leave Comments