4 children died in Matadi’s fire

Residents of New Matadi Community in Monrovia are reeling from the death of four kids from a fire outbreak early Thursday.

By: Emmanuel Wise Jipoh 

Monrovia, Liberia, May 9, 2025 – Four children have died in a fire outbreak reportedly caused by a mosquito coil, in New Matadi Community, Monrovia, eyewitnesses told The NEW DAWN here on Thursday.

The victims, Emmanuel Flomo, 8; Marcus Momolu, 12; Elizabeth Momolu, 6; and Lusu Kamara, 2, were burned to death at 1:21 A.M. on Thursday.

Community dwellers tried to assist in putting out the blaze, but their efforts were fruitless, as the children burned beyond recognition.

The Director of the Liberian National Fire Service, Col. G. Warsuwah Barvoul, noted that the lack of roads into the community was largely responsible for the victims’ deaths, as firefighters could not access the area.

“The fire team arrived promptly but could not reach the house due to structures obstructing the pathway. This delay, unfortunately, contributed to the loss of young lives,” said Col. Barvoul.

He urged the public to refrain from constructing buildings in alleyways, stressing that such actions hinder emergency responses and can lead to preventable tragedies.

In a preliminary report, Col. Barvoul also revealed that the fire is believed to have been sparked by a mosquito coil left unattended.

The incident has renewed calls for stricter enforcement of urban planning regulations and increased public awareness about fire safety and emergency access routes. Editing by Jonathan Browne