Kiambu Town was engulfed in flames on Sunday night as a massive fire broke out behind Petan Plaza, which houses Pettans Technical College, just hours before midnight. The inferno left business owners and residents counting heavy losses as it quickly spread to adjacent buildings.
Firefighters from Kiambu County struggled to contain the blaze, with residents expressing frustration over the slow response. Many questioned why fire engines arrived at the scene with insufficient water, delaying efforts to put out the fire.
The Kenya Red Cross confirmed the incident and dispatched additional emergency responders to assist multiple agencies on the ground.
“Emergency response teams are battling a fire that broke out near Pettans Technical College in Kiambu. The Kenya Red Cross Action Team, Kenya Police, and the County Fire Brigade are on the ground, working to contain it,” read a statement from the humanitarian organization.
Images and videos seen by TheAfricanWatch.com captured thick plumes of smoke and raging flames engulfing nearby residential structures, forcing residents to flee for safety. Witnesses at the scene could be heard screaming as emergency teams worked through the chaotic streets to bring the situation under control.
Despite the challenges, the county’s disaster management unit eventually managed to contain the fire. Investigations are now underway to establish the cause of the inferno.
Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi addressed the incident, stating, “This evening, a building in Kiambu Town caught fire. The Kiambu County Government’s disaster management unit was deployed to the scene. More updates to follow.”
This latest fire outbreak follows another incident on January 3 in Kikuyu Town, near the Southern Bypass footbridge, which also destroyed property of unknown value.