Fire at Kunene national monument, arson suspected

AN inexplicable fire gutted visitor facilities at the Petrified Forest National Monument in the Kunene Region early last Monday morning, and the National Heritage Council (NHC) says it suspects foul play.

The Petrified Forest is a geological site situated roughly 37 kilometres west of Khorixas, and was declared a national monument in 1950. Monday’s fire, NHC Director Karl Aribeb told The Namibian, completely destroyed the NHC’s administrative block, a kiosk, and a community craft outlet that was situated in a separate block.He said the NHR had lost all of its records stored on the premises.”The buildings weren’t electrified at all, and it wasn’t a rainy day,” Aribeb said from his office in Windhoek when questioned about their suspicion that the fire was started maliciously.”It was a clear, sunny, normal Damaraland day,” he said, adding that lighting was excluded as a possible cause of the fire.He said the Petrified Forest Monument attracted more than 30 000 visitors a year, and that especially the community craft outlet had been a good marketing facility for the local community.Aribeb said the damage caused by the fire was estimated between N$300 000 and N$400 000.The Namibian learnt that the NHC is awaiting a report from the security company responsible for protecting the site, as a guard had been assigned to stand watch there at the time the fire started.Visits to the area have not been affected dramatically, Aribeb said, as the NHC had set up a small desk from which they operate for the time being.”Visitors are still coming, there’s not been a major disruption of visitor flow,” the director said.The owner of Welwitschia Security Services, Moses Goagoseb, told The Namibian that the guard on duty that night had asked permission from his superior to go to Khorixas, and was granted that.The NHC has offered a reward of N$5 000 to anyone who could provide information that would lead to the arrest and prosecution of the persons responsible for starting the fire.Monday’s fire, NHC Director Karl Aribeb told The Namibian, completely destroyed the NHC’s administrative block, a kiosk, and a community craft outlet that was situated in a separate block.He said the NHR had lost all of its records stored on the premises.”The buildings weren’t electrified at all, and it wasn’t a rainy day,” Aribeb said from his office in Windhoek when questioned about their suspicion that the fire was started maliciously.”It was a clear, sunny, normal Damaraland day,” he said, adding that lighting was excluded as a possible cause of the fire.He said the Petrified Forest Monument attracted more than 30 000 visitors a year, and that especially the community craft outlet had been a good marketing facility for the local community.Aribeb said the damage caused by the fire was estimated between N$300 000 and N$400 000.The Namibian learnt that the NHC is awaiting a report from the security company responsible for protecting the site, as a guard had been assigned to stand watch there at the time the fire started.Visits to the area have not been affected dramatically, Aribeb said, as the NHC had set up a small desk from which they operate for the time being.”Visitors are still coming, there’s not been a major disruption of visitor flow,” the director said.The owner of Welwitschia Security Services, Moses Goagoseb, told The Namibian that the guard on duty that night had asked permission from his superior to go to Khorixas, and was granted that.The NHC has offered a reward of N$5 000 to anyone who could provide information that would lead to the arrest and prosecution of the persons responsible for starting the fire.