Bakoteh Dumpsite Fire Suspicious- Mayor Bensouda

An unusual November fire at the Bakoteh Dumpsite yesterday drew an emergency response from fire fighters who struggled to put down the inferno polluting the area with thick smoke from burning tires.

It is not immediately known what caused the fire but addressing journalists at the site, Mayor Talib Bensouda said he wouldnot rule out foul play because ‘the fire season is not yet upon us’.

He said natural fires usually occur at the site only well after the rainy season when waste materials turned dry, adding that in fact KMC has safeguards in place to mitigate such natural outbreaks.

“But this particular fire is suspicious because it started right in the middle of the dumpsite. It is part of a pattern of attacks on our campaign billboards and materials across many parts of the country,” Bensouda who is a presidential aspirant in next month’s election, said.

The mayor also alleged that there had been attempts to frustrate his political party’s nomination tomorrow, claiming that such efforts against them have been ongoing since the previous week.

He claimed the fire was allegedly started by someone using a match or gasoline, although he did not provide evidence to support the allegation.

“So, definitely, we know it’s political and it’s foul play, but it’s not going to stop our nomination,” he said.

Despite his suspicions, no official investigation findings had been released to establish the cause of the fire at the time of publication.

Mr Bensouda said his immediate concern was the impact of the smoke on residents living around the dumpsite.

He said residents were inhaling toxic gases from the burning waste and that the KMC was working with the fire service to contain the outbreak.