NAIROBI, Kenya — A fire broke out in residential buildings in Kangemi’s Posta area on Thursday, with several people feared trapped as residents scrambled to contain the rapidly spreading blaze.
Thick plumes of smoke were seen rising from the affected buildings as the fire tore through part of the Kangemi Informal Settlement, while efforts continued to establish the extent of the damage and whether anyone had been injured.
The Nairobi City County fire response team was reported to be battling the inferno, although details on the number of people trapped or injured were not immediately available.
The cause of the fire also remained unknown as emergency teams and residents worked to contain the blaze.
Residents struggle to contain fire
Images from the scene showed residents attempting to fight the fire using whatever resources were available to them, with no emergency responders visible in some of the footage captured during the early stages of the incident.
The fire affected a densely populated section of Kangemi, where many residents live in closely packed semi-permanent structures.
The settlement is among Nairobi’s major informal settlements and sits in a valley near affluent neighbourhoods such as Mountain View.
A large number of structures in the area are built from corrugated iron sheets, timber and mud walls, creating conditions in which fires can spread rapidly from one structure to another.
The settlement’s dense layout and narrow access routes can also make it difficult for emergency vehicles to reach affected areas quickly.
Illegal electricity connections raise fire concerns
Kangemi has for years faced challenges associated with unauthorised electricity connections.
Some residents resort to illegal grid connections because they cannot afford the cost of obtaining formal electricity connections. The makeshift networks often involve poorly insulated or exposed wires and improvised connections between buildings.
Such installations can increase the risk of electrocution and electrical fires, particularly when wires are damaged or overloaded.
Short circuits in poorly connected lines can ignite combustible materials and quickly spread flames through densely packed structures.
Illegal electricity connections also place additional pressure on local electricity infrastructure and contribute to power losses for utility providers.
However, there was no immediate confirmation that an illegal electricity connection caused Thursday’s fire, and investigations will be required to establish the actual source of the blaze.
Extent of damage yet to be established
The extent of property damage and whether there were casualties remained unclear as firefighting operations continued.
Authorities were expected to assess the affected buildings and establish the number of households affected once the fire had been brought under control.
Residents were also expected to provide information on anyone who may have been trapped or missing during the incident.
The fire once again highlights the vulnerability of densely populated informal settlements to urban fires, where combustible construction materials, limited access roads and inadequate emergency infrastructure can complicate rescue and firefighting operations.
Further details on the cause of the fire, casualties and property losses are expected as authorities complete their assessment of the scene.
