The government has outlined its next course of action in response to a fire that broke out in a dormitory at Ngara Girls High School on Saturday evening.
According to Transport, Housing, Urban Development, Infrastructure and Public Works PS Paul Maringa, the State will first probe the cause of the fire. He was speaking when he toured the school on Sunday.
Maringa said the State Department will also conduct a general safety audit of the institution.
“The way forward, as government, we have decided that as investigations go on, samples will be collected in the next two days to ascertain the cause of fire. State Department will assess also the cause of the fire so that we can guide the school on safety standards,” said the PS.
“We have had quite a number of fire incidences in the past in various schools. We are looking at rolling out a system that will allow fire drills to be carried out twice a year in all government agencies.”
The PS noted that students at the institution will not be allowed to go home as the damage from the fire was minimal. Parents will, however, be allowed to see their children briefly.
“The affected dorm has been cordoned off as investigations into the cause of the fire are being carried out. The dorm housed 50 students… some belongings got burnt but there was minimal damage,” he said.
Mr Maringa also commended the city’s fire department for responding within 20 minutes after the fire broke out and putting it out in less than 40 minutes.
He also assured the public that the incident will not interfere with the intake of Form One students.
According to an earlier statement from the school management, the fire broke out at around 6:45 pm in Emerald Dorm, which houses 110 students.
No casualties or injuries were reported from the incident as the fire broke out when all students were attending evening preps.
