Morning fire destroys family homes in Pondamali estate

The aftermath of a fire at Ponda Mali estate. [Harun Wathari, Standard]

At least 17 families have been rendered homeless after their rental houses at Pondamali estate were burnt.

Nothing was salvaged from the houses after the fire that started at around 10am. Residents said three people were injured in the incident.

Naomi Wangari, also affected, said she was called by a neighbour and informed about the fire.

“I had gone to do casual jobs in town when I was called. By then, the fire had spread. Now I have lost everything,” said Ms Wangari.

Residents accused officers from Nakuru firefighting department of not responding fast enough, claiming they arrived an hour after the fire had started.

“We informed them on time but they responded so late when all the houses had been burnt,” said Wangari.

The cause of the fire is yet to be established, although residents suspect it was triggered by a gas cylinder explosion.

“There was a woman who was burning litter, we suspect it caused the gas inside the house to explode,” said Jack Ambole.

The residents called for well equipped fire stations at Nakuru Town East and Nakuru Town West for faster response in slums.