NAMIBIA Wildlife Resorts (NWR) reportedly had unserviced fire extinguishers when a fire that killed a two-year-old child broke out at one of its resorts in December last year.
The Sesriem resort is located in the Namib-Naukluft National Park near the Sossusvlei dunes in the Hardap region.
The fire destroyed the houses of more than 70 employees along with their personal belongings.
The allegations are contained in a document titled ‘Sesriem fire’ drafted by the affected workers and submitted to the NWR board and the minister of environment and tourism in December.
“This incident was preventable. Our repeated concerns about safety were ignored. The fire extinguishers at the camp were expired. This is not a minor oversight; it is gross negligence,” the workers state.
Minister of environment and tourism Indileni Daniel this week told The Namibian she was not aware of the allegations regarding the unserviced fire hydrants.
“I am not aware of the document. I will confirm tomorrow once back in Windhoek,” she said.
The NWR employees further question the resort’s preparedness, saying things could have been worse had the fire broken out at night.
“The potential for tragic loss of life does not bear thinking about, and the fact that NWR allowed such a risk to exist is unforgivable. Our humanity has been tarnished by this neglect,” the document reads.
The Namibian has reached out to an anonymous worker regarding whether the resort employs a safety expert and the source confirmed there is none.
When asked about the grievances by The Namibian last Friday, NWR spokesperson Epson Kasuto said the matter is being handled internally.
“Most of the issues are internal and are being addressed as we speak through appropriate internal channels,” he said.
Speaking to The Namibian yesterday, city police senior station officer John Afrikaner said fire extinguishers and other fire protection equipment are legal requirements under the Labour Act and the Occupational Health Act.
“It is important for any business and some residential complexes that fall into the category of the legal requirements of fire extinguishers to have them installed and maintained annually at their premises.
“It is the responsibility of business owners to make sure that those fire extinguishers are installed and maintained on an annual basis . . . and these plans must be submitted at the local authority that is responsible. The fire brigade must advise the owners on the number of fire extinguishers each building requires,” he said.
Afrikaner said fire extinguishers are the first line of defence and every business must have them.
“They are there to fight the fire while the fire is at a premature stage and can still be controlled. It is the first line of protection and that is why it is also important for building owners to have trained personnel on how it must be used.”
Business owners must register with the City of Windhoek to obtain a fitness certificate to operate, a process that includes an annual inspection of the premises by the fire brigade.
“If you do not have a fitness certificate it means you are operating illegally,” Afrikaner said.
THE INCIDENT
The fire broke out on 1 December, destroying staff houses and all personal belongings. A two-year-old boy was burned beyond recognition.
The environment minister confirmed the incident in a statement last year, expressing concern over the incident.
“The ministry regrets the loss of life and conveys its condolences to the affected family and the entire staff at Sesriem. No wildlife or tourists were affected by the fire,” the statement reads.
According to Aylesbury Fire Systems, fire extinguishers are crucial in Namibian resorts for immediate fire suppression, protecting guests and staff, preventing catastrophic damage, ensuring legal compliance (especially with thatch roofs) and buying time for emergency services, given the country’s dry environment where fires spread quickly.
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