‘Mysterious’ fire renders over 40 homeless in limbe

Over 40 people have been rendered homeless in Limbe after wild fire razed their homes at Unity Quarters, Mile One, a stone throw from Limbe Regional Hospital, Tuesday, January 5. A six months old baby sustained grave injuries from the fire. The baby was rushed to the nearby Limbe Regional Hospital. We are told that the baby’s condition is stable.

Two blocks made of wood – one with 12 rooms and another with 10 rooms – were charred by fire that is said to have originated from one of the rooms near an electricity pole at about 9:30am that fateful Tuesday.

Some who claimed the fire was mysterious quickly recall that a block in the said compound was charred by fire about one year ago – on Tuesday, January 27, 2015.

A resident who preferred to be call Monsieur Bonyo told The Cameroon Journal that there were around when the flames emerged apparently from the blues. He said before they could know it, the flames had brought down one of the blocks even as commercial motorbike riders who were around struggled to put it out.

He said it was through a dress hanging in front of the second block that the fire crossed from the block in front.
“On January 27, 2015, one of the blocks in this building got burnt. It was on a Tuesday like this one and I was at the market. I had left my two children at home today and when I heard there was fire, I left the market like a mad person. I had been informed that a child had sustained burns from the fire. I left my children with an old woman in one of the blocks that is completely burnt,” Immaculate, one of the victims told our reporter.

“This is our family compound that has been burnt. I don’t know where I will start from. Last year when this other block was burnt, I was in Gabon. Today, 22 rooms have been burnt. I can’t say what has happened here. I came back from Gabon two weeks ago. Pauline Azah Sama Paulina who is about 85 years escaped the fire. My bags, money, passport and all my valuables have been burnt. I had just left the house on my way to new town when I was called back that our house was on fire,” Emmanuel Nkwe Sama – another victim said in tears.

Nearby, Tiwa Therese seemingly in her early eighties was crying not for her house that had been burnt by the inferno, but rather that she lost valuable documents.

“I’m only crying that I have lost my National Identity Card. How will I be able to travel in my country without an ID card? My marriage certificate and birth certificate are all gone. It is finished for me.” They are hoping that gov’t will come to their assistance with help.