FREETOWN, Sierra Leone – A fire broke out at Sierra Leone‘s State House in central Freetown on Saturday, April 12, 2025, causing significant damage to parts of the building, though fortunately, no casualties were reported.
The blaze, which ignited in the late afternoon, was swiftly contained by firefighters after hours of intense efforts.
At the time of the fire, President Julius Maada Bio was not present, as he is currently attending an international conference in Turkey.
The fire, which began around 4:00 pm local time, primarily affected the third and fourth floors of the presidential residence.
While documents and furniture on these floors were destroyed, the president’s office, located on the second floor, remained untouched by the flames.
A senior fire service official confirmed that firefighters were able to bring the situation under control after about five hours of firefighting efforts.
Videos shared across social media platforms depicted flames shooting from the windows of the upper floors, accompanied by thick black smoke that could be seen billowing into the sky.
Local residents, alarmed by the sight, described the scene as harrowing.
“We saw smoke and fire billowing from the windows and the top floor of the building this evening,” said Mohamed Kamara, a local resident who witnessed the incident.
The area around State House was quickly cordoned off by police, with additional security personnel and soldiers deployed to secure the vicinity.
Streets surrounding the presidential building were blocked off as a precautionary measure, ensuring that no bystanders were injured during the incident.
Although the fire’s cause remains unknown, investigations are currently underway.
The government of Sierra Leone has assured the public that the situation is under control and has pledged to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the fire.
“We are grateful that no lives were lost in this unfortunate incident. Security around State House has been enhanced, and all necessary measures are being taken,” an information ministry statement read.
