NAIROBI, Kenya — Several vehicles were destroyed in a night-time fire at a garage off Ole Dume Road in Kilimani, Nairobi, leaving mechanics and vehicle owners facing losses estimated at millions of shillings.
The fire prompted an emergency response from the Nairobi City County Disaster Management Centre, after authorities received a distress call reporting the blaze.
Senior Nairobi County officials visited the scene and coordinated the response with disaster management teams, residents and mechanics as firefighters worked to contain the flames.
Vehicles destroyed in overnight blaze
The fire broke out at the garage during the night, damaging a number of vehicles that were inside the facility.
Several vehicles were extensively burned, with some reportedly reduced to shells and believed to be beyond economical repair.
The full value of the property destroyed had not been established by the time of publication.
Witnesses said the garage employed more than 200 mechanics, highlighting the potential impact of the fire on workers and vehicle owners who depend on the facility for their livelihoods.
The extent of the losses is expected to become clearer after an assessment of the damaged vehicles, equipment and other property.
Fire took more than four hours to contain
Firefighters and emergency teams battled the blaze for more than four hours before bringing it under control.
The operation was complicated by the materials reportedly stored at the garage.
According to reports, the facility contained vehicles, petrol and other highly flammable materials, creating additional risks for firefighters and making it difficult to approach and extinguish the flames.
Emergency teams remained at the scene after the main blaze was contained as they worked to extinguish remaining flames and prevent the fire from reigniting.
The presence of fuel and other combustible materials also meant that firefighters had to exercise caution while working around the damaged vehicles and structures.
County officials assess damage
Senior Nairobi County officials visited the garage as emergency operations continued.
They coordinated with disaster management officers, residents and mechanics affected by the incident.
The officials described the incident as a difficult night for mechanics and vehicle owners whose vehicles were inside the facility when the fire broke out.
The county response focused on containing the fire, protecting surrounding property and ensuring that the flames did not spread to neighbouring areas.
Further assessment is expected to determine the extent of the damage and the number of vehicles and businesses affected.
Cause of fire yet to be established
The cause of the Kilimani garage fire had not been established at the time of publication.
Investigations are expected to determine what triggered the blaze and whether any safety or storage issues contributed to its spread.
Authorities will also need to establish the extent of the damage and identify the property and vehicles affected.
Until investigations are completed, it would be premature to attribute the fire to a specific cause.
Garage workers face major losses
The incident has raised concerns about the potential economic impact on the mechanics and vehicle owners who used the garage.
With more than 200 mechanics reportedly working at the facility, the destruction could affect a large number of livelihoods in addition to the owners of the vehicles damaged in the fire.
For vehicle owners, the losses could be particularly significant where cars were undergoing repairs or contained spare parts and equipment.
The financial impact could also extend to mechanics who lost tools and other equipment required to operate their businesses.
The total losses will only be known after a detailed inventory of the destroyed and damaged property is completed.
More fires reported across Kenya
The Kilimani blaze was among several fire incidents reported across Kenya during the same period.
In Kisumu City, an overnight fire at Kibuye Market also destroyed property reportedly worth millions of shillings.
The Kisumu fire affected businesses operating at the market, raising fresh concerns about the vulnerability of commercial centres to destructive fires.
