A fire broke out on Tuesday evening at the Capitol Building, the seat of the legislature in Liberia, engulfing offices near those of Montserrado County District #11 Representative Richard Koon.
The incident occurred during a tense atmosphere due to ongoing confusion over the leadership crisis within the House of Representatives.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing smoke billowing from the southeastern wing of the Capitol Building after the members of the legislature had left their offices. The flames quickly spread, prompting a swift response from the Liberia National Fire Service and other emergency personnel. Firefighters battled the blaze for hours before eventually bringing it under control.
The Director of Maintenance at the House of Representatives, Mr. S. Varney Nathaniel , described the incident as unfortunate and called for a full-scale investigation.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, but some speculate that it may have been triggered by an electrical fault. Investigators from the Liberia National Fire Service are expected to release a preliminary report in the coming days.
The incident occurred against the backdrop of an already charged political environment. Earlier on Monday, December 9, 2024, members of the House of Representatives engaged in heated debates between the majority bloc led by Rep. Sam Kogar and supporters of the embattled Speaker Fornati Koffa regarding the House’s leadership.
The Supreme Court of Liberia recently ruled on the impasse in the House after Speaker Koffa filed a writ of mandamus before the full bench of the Supreme Court.
This fire incident at the legislature marks the first of its kind in 12 years, since part of the House of Representatives was gutted by fire in 2012.
The fire comes at a critical time as the House of Representatives faces growing pressure to resolve its internal disagreements and address national priorities. Citizens are urging lawmakers to focus on uniting for the country’s progress rather than being consumed by leadership struggles.
In the meantime, Liberians await the outcome of investigations to determine the fire’s exact cause and prevent future occurrences.
