Fire guts Garden City mall
Sep 12, 2006
GARDEN City shopping mall was closed yesterday after fire gutted one of its basement stores on Sunday night.<br>The Police sealed off the complex on Yusuf Lule Road and turned away tenants from the mall that houses more than 100 shops, banks, a supermarket, restaurants and entertainment spots.
By Richard Komakech
GARDEN City shopping mall was closed yesterday after fire gutted one of its basement stores on Sunday night. Police sealed off the complex on Yusuf Lule Road and turned away tenants from the mall that houses more than 100 shops, banks, a supermarket, restaurants and entertainment spots.
Police said the fire started in the basement store and delivery room for Uchumi Supermarket located on the southern wing.
More than 30 firefighters and seven fire trucks from the Police fire brigade, Mukwano Industries and Fire Masters fought the fire that threatened the multi-million mall. They were later joined yesterday morning by fire fighting trucks from Entebbe airport.
No one was hurt as the fire started when business had closed. The part affected is adjacent to the car park.
Garden City security staff first tried to put out the fire using carbondioxide extinguishers, but were overwhelmed by the heat and smoke.
The firemen broke down wall-size glass barriers but failed to access the storeroom. They resorted to drilling holes through the thick concrete walls and the tunnel roof to pump in water to douse the fire shortly before midday yesterday.
“When we arrived, thick smoke was coming out of the basement ventilation and it was very hard getting to it,†Fire Brigade chief Joseph Mugisha said, describing the fire as ‘difficult’ because his men could not get inside.
“We used a lot of external attack. We had enough manpower but the problem was how to access the area,†Mugisha said.
As the firemen relaxed after the five-hour battle, they sprung into action again when explosions and fresh flames emerged.
The firemen said the fire was fanned by fuels and aerosols from body sprays and deodorant cans in the store.
GARDEN City shopping mall was closed yesterday after fire gutted one of its basement stores on Sunday night. Police sealed off the complex on Yusuf Lule Road and turned away tenants from the mall that houses more than 100 shops, banks, a supermarket, restaurants and entertainment spots.
Police said the fire started in the basement store and delivery room for Uchumi Supermarket located on the southern wing.
More than 30 firefighters and seven fire trucks from the Police fire brigade, Mukwano Industries and Fire Masters fought the fire that threatened the multi-million mall. They were later joined yesterday morning by fire fighting trucks from Entebbe airport.
No one was hurt as the fire started when business had closed. The part affected is adjacent to the car park.
Garden City security staff first tried to put out the fire using carbondioxide extinguishers, but were overwhelmed by the heat and smoke.
The firemen broke down wall-size glass barriers but failed to access the storeroom. They resorted to drilling holes through the thick concrete walls and the tunnel roof to pump in water to douse the fire shortly before midday yesterday.
“When we arrived, thick smoke was coming out of the basement ventilation and it was very hard getting to it,†Fire Brigade chief Joseph Mugisha said, describing the fire as ‘difficult’ because his men could not get inside.
“We used a lot of external attack. We had enough manpower but the problem was how to access the area,†Mugisha said.
As the firemen relaxed after the five-hour battle, they sprung into action again when explosions and fresh flames emerged.
The firemen said the fire was fanned by fuels and aerosols from body sprays and deodorant cans in the store.