By Alhaji MB Jalloh
In the heart of Freetown, a recent image of an outdated, weather-beaten fire engine, which looks more like a relic than rescue vehicle, plumbers down the street, its rusted frame groaning under the weight of duty long abandoned by successive governments.
This haunting image has ignited widespread concern that this was not merely a snapshot of institutional decay; it’s a symbol of a deeper malaise, a glaring indictment of a governance culture that routinely neglects the essentials while indulging in the extravagant, highlighting the pressing need for the Sierra Leone government to overhaul the fire force’s fleet.
That our gallant firefighters must confront raging infernos with antique equipment is as unfortunate as it is unacceptable. It is a betrayal of governance. These men and women, brave beyond measure, rush headlong, endangering their lives to respond to duty, into flames with little more than courage and resolve as their armor. Their heroism shines all the brighter against the backdrop of institutional failure, but heroism alone cannot douse the flames.
Recent blazes at State House, the seat of power, in a children’s unit at the Government Hospital in Makeni and the 34 Military Hospital, icons of our national administration and care, lay bare the cruel irony – even the very symbols of state power are not spared from the consequences of state neglect. What hope then, for the common citizen?
Perhaps, it was the first time for many to see the Power of Seat, which harbors the highest office in the land, in flames, whose cause still remains inexplicable and unfathomable.
The solution is as clear as it is long overdue. Fire engines are not luxuries; they are lifesaving assets that empower our firefighters to respond to emergencies with speed and efficacy.
Civil defense, in every country, is one of the key and essential departments, which is required to effectively and efficiently respond to emergency situations forthwith. Thus, such a unit should be equipped at all times with the most advanced technical tools.
In a country where fire disasters have grown in frequency and ferocity, investment in modernizing the fire force is not a matter of choice but of necessity. And yet, resources continue to be inconceivably frittered away on vanity fleets of gleaming SUVs, while the nation’s frontline defenders are left scavenging through smothering smoke with broken tools.
Decisive action is required to safeguard lives and property, and it is imperative that the government takes meaningful steps to address this critical issue.
Prioritizing lifesaving assets like modern fire engines over non-essential vehicle acquisitions is long overdue. Redirecting resources from non-essential purchases of SUVs, towards vital services such as firefighting would be a pragmatic step.
Any government that fails to protect lives and property has failed in its most sacred duty. Investing in the fire force is not merely about equipment; it is a reflection of who we are and what we value. And it’s also about saving lives and property.
The flames are not only burning our buildings, they are burning our legacy. Will we continue to fan the embers of dysfunction, or will we act boldly to extinguish them with vision and responsibility?
The choice is ours. But remember that the fire waits for no one and cannot distinguish between who is who and which is which. A word for the wise is sufficient !
