Bunia faces multiplying fires amid insufficient rescue services

Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, is grappling with a surge in fires, with at least four incidents recorded in different neighborhoods over the past two weeks. The frequency of these blazes has highlighted a critical shortage of firefighting equipment and personnel in a city with a population exceeding 1.5 million.

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The city does not have enough means to fight fires in an agglomeration of more than one and a half million inhabitants.

Residents have voiced strong concerns over the inadequacy of resources to combat fires. The city reportedly possesses only one operational fire truck, a stark contrast to the numerous fire hazards, including dozens of gas stations, scattered throughout the urban area. The latest fire occurred in a residential building near a bar in the Hoho neighborhood, adding to previous incidents in homes and businesses near the central market.

While some sources suggest the fires are accidental, potentially caused by careless smoking or faulty electrical systems and solar panels, the response capacity remains a major issue. The limited number of fire trucks and the resulting delays in intervention exacerbate the risks, especially given the close proximity of many gas stations. In several recent cases, fire trucks from the UN peacekeeping mission, MONUSCO, have been instrumental in limiting the damage.

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The city has only one operational fire truck, which is considered insufficient to respond to emergencies.

The provincial director of civil protection has called for public vigilance and advised households, businesses, and gas stations to acquire fire extinguishers. Meanwhile, residents are urging provincial authorities to provide each commune with a fire truck and enhance the capacity of emergency services to better protect lives and property.

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We ask the provincial authorities to equip each commune of Bunia with a fire truck and to strengthen the capacities of the rescue services.