A fire engulfed Sierra Leone’s state capitol in Freetown, the president’s official residence and office, prompting a full-scale emergency response as firefighters fought to contain the flames. The fire began Saturday, April 12 around 4:00 GMT, tearing apart the third and fourth floors of the historic structure, although officials confirmed that the president’s office on the second floor was still unaffected.
President Julius Maada Bio was not in the country at the time of the incident because he is currently attending a conference in Türkiye. According to the Information Department, “The emergency team is working hard to ensure [the president’s office] Still protected. The statement added that the cause of the fire has not been determined.
Witness accounts and videos circulated on social media, showing fire shootings from the upper windows of the iconic white building, visible with thick black smoke from downtown Fret. “We saw the windows and top floors of the building tonight and smoke rolling with smoke,” local resident Mohamed Kamara told AFP.
Police blocked the area around the building, and safe operators and soldiers were deployed to manage the crowds and ensure safety. Fire trucks were seen entering the yard as emergency personnel struggled for hours to control the situation.
The fire has inspired public attention to preserving Sierra Leone’s legacy, especially after the fire destroyed another national symbol, The Historic Freetown Cotton Tree, two years ago. The state legislature was built in 1895 as Fort Thornton, which was originally the residence of the colonial governor and later became the official home of the Prime Minister in 1961. It has been the residence and main workplace of the head of Sierra Leone since 1971.
