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Innocent Ruwende, Harare Bureau
An inferno yesterday reduced to ashes six cars at a car workshop just outside Siya So SMEs complex in Mbare, Harare, bringing to five the number of major fire incidences which occurred in the country in the past four days, where property worth millions has been destroyed.

The city’s corporate communications manager, Mr Michael Chideme, said the fire was started by scrap metal dealers who were smelting copper nearby and it quickly spread to the nearby vehicles.

“All six vehicles were reduced to ashes,” he said. “The Fire Bridgade managed to contain the fire. The fire did not affect Siyaso as it happened several metres away from the complex. One of the dealers is believed to be a 12-year-old who ran away after starting the fire.

“Fire danger rating is very high this season, so we urge people not to use things that may cause fire such as smoking and throwing away the stubs and any other things that may cause fire.”

One of the proprietors of the car breakers and scrap yard, Mr Tyson Chabarwa, said the fire broke out from a nearby stream.

“There were some youths who were smelting copper and when they saw us coming they ran away,” he said. “After they ran away, we noticed the fire was uncontrollable and as such we failed to put it out using buckets. We later called the Fire Brigade which arrived on the scene within minutes.

“Three functional cars were burnt, the others were non-runners. We managed to move two other cars away. The lorry had gas bottles and other items we use. We used it as a storeroom. We are estimating that damage at $39 000 to $40 000.”

The incident follows a number of fire accidents that have been witnessed lately across the country, with the first one claiming the lives of 32 people in West-Nicholson last week when a bus they were travelling in caught fire following a suspected gas cylinder explosion.

Some victims were burnt to ashes.

About two thirds of the Glen View Area 8 Home Industry Complex along Willowvale Road in Harare was on Monday destroyed by a fire that broke out in the afternoon, destroying property worth millions of dollars belonging to informal traders.

Three shops in Kadoma – Edgars, Jet and Coloursel – were also razed in a blaze causing the destruction of furniture and clothing items worth thousands of dollars.

Three days ago, Mpilo Central Hospital doctors in Bulawayo were left homeless after an inferno engulfed their living quarters, destroying property valued at nearly $300 000.

Police yesterday confirmed all the fire incidences which occurred in Harare, Bulawayo and Kadoma between November 17 to 20 this year.

Police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said the causes of the fire incidents could not be ascertained and no injuries or deaths were recorded.