A ZESCO transformer in the Central Business District of Choma exploded resulting in disruption of power supply.
An eye witness Bernard Monze who put out the fire at the Transformer situated on the Lusaka/ Livingstone Road said he heard a loud bang and rushed to see what it was and noticed some flames on the transformer.
Without any hesitation Mr Monze rushed to the nearby shops and asked whether they had the fire extinguisher which was readily available while the Fire Brigade was nowhere near the scene.Mr Monze quickly operated the extinguisher and within a few minutes the fire was put out with members of the public watching in fear.
Zesco employees arrived at the scene after the fire had already been put out, then thereafter the Fire Brigade came but were immediately chased away by angry members of the public.
Another eye witness Charles Doloba praised Mr Monze for his courage adding that if he had not rushed to put out the fire a lot of property could have been lost.
Mr Doloba was unhappy with the conduct of the fire brigade and urged them to change their work culture.
“First there was an explosion then the fire started burning on the transformer, I am just happy with Bernard for his effort that was great.
“I am just disappointed with the Fire Brigade how do they arrive at the scene when the fire had been put out.” he said.
And Oliver Monze urged the Fire Fighters to attend to emergencies on time and should not delay as was always the case.
When contacted for a comment Zesco Spokesperson Henry Kapata had by press time not responded.
“I will get back to you let me just get the details from the regional manager,” he said.
Mr Monze is a true hero and a good citizen, we need more of his kind in Zambia. I wish I was rich, I would reward him. God bless him.
He should be compensated by ZESCO for wasting his time putting off their ‘mess’.
If Monze has no job, they should give a job at Zesco or council.
UPND cadres putting the country on fire.
He was showing off- I cant stand him. Monze sounds foreign as well
Disgusting him showing off as though he is this man. Who told him to 4ool that he should be putting fire off. What is he trying to achieve anyway?
He was showing off, for nothing, unless you are TRAINED properly stay away from fire.
Thanks
Bb2014,16
It sounds to me like Bernard started the fire while he was stealing transformer oil, bye!
@Mushota and @Nubian Princess Mili banamakwenkwe! Your like Ebola – everyone wants to keep away as you both seem to spend your time trolling for clients! Please get a job or get married
@Mushota you are useless.
@MUSHOTA you are a pig!!!. no human heart.
I concur with the first four comments! ZESCO should give him a token of appreciation.
To me this sounds like a suicide attempt gone begging!! Monze should be interviewed thouroghly!!
SORRY, I meant to say;
I concur with the first THREE comments! ZESCO should give him a token of appreciation.
Reply
Well done. He put his life at risk and prevented a catastrophe. Please can safety equipment, fire fighting machinery and water supply to emergency services become a priority for this and future governments.
If he used the wrong water based canister…this chap would be toast by now. Please dont try this people wait for fire tender…
You are right for the first time in a long time. I don’t understand why people were angry with the fire fighters, did they want them to be on the scene in a flash like ‘your friendly neighbourhood Spider-man…’?
Ever head of first aid? That is why we have people trained as fire fighters even if they are not part of fire brigade. It is to assist is such situations. The man just did what he had to and you are blaming him. Only a fire fighter can have that courage off-course after assessing the situation.
Viva Zambian firefighters…no tender-no water-no plan.
He set it on fire and for scared afterwards and started to put it out. Fullish upnd cadre. Now the entire district is load shedded. Zesco forget connecting these vandors. Let them stay without power at least 6months.
ONCE UPON A TIME (ACTUALLY, IN 2009) I WAS IN MANSA AND WITNESSED A BUILDING WHERE MARKETEERS USED TO STORE THEIR MERCHANDISE BURNT TO ASHES. FIRE BRIGADE WERE CALLED. THEY CAME VERY LATE AND EVEN IF THEY CAME THEIR FIRE ENGINE DID NOT HAVE EVEN A DROP OF WATER IN THE TANK. WHEN THEY ARRIVED AND UPON DISCOVERING THERE WAS NO WATER IN THE TANK, THEY JUST STARTED WATCHING JUST LIKE THE ORDINARY ONLOOKERS. IT WAS SHOCKING AND SADDENING TO SEE MARKETEERS (WHO I CAN BET MY LAST BUCK DID NOT HAVE THEIR MERCHANDISE INSURED) CRYING CRYING IN AGONY.
morning Lusaka times family , at times I open this site just to make me laugh not to learn something ,more especially some comments .sure some one does a gud job u again leak him to that .
Kudos to Mr Monze…but plz be careful next time not to fight a fire without fire fighting training. Mind u not all fires are put off by any fire extinguisher that u pick..! U should have knowledge of which extinguisher puts of which fire..! Not sure which type of extinguisher u used in this case…! U must be very lucky..!
What do you me mean, ‘U must be very lucky? You are stupidly talking like you are very sure he is not trained. ***** yobe iwe people know the tu ma trainings you are talking about.
Useless Zesco like some useless PF ministers whom Sata referred to. Hope the Chinese will not come and buy Zesco
That was quite a risk
Zesco need to educate the public on safety issues..
Sure how can you extinguish electrical circuits causing fire with an extinguisher
this goes to fire bridget whoever she is… was she coming to pour water on high voltage circuits???
How come the transformer that caught fire is in Choma and the man who noticed the fire was in MONZE , their is a distance of almost 60km and Fire brigade could not arrive on the scene earlier than the man from Monze? How possible too that the man in monze noticed the fire , he is a witch let the authorities investigate him, did he even pay for that fire extinguisher?? Who told him to put the fire OFF , what if that is the latest technology for transformers to operate they must burn and un burn??
HERO.HERO. Needs to be awarded. Like seriously.
Pure patriotism. Had it been the sadists, they would have derived happiness to see more destruction caused by the fire and even rejoice if a life had been lost in the infernal and blame it on The President. Get to know the types of fires and how to extinguish them for your own benefit because one day the fire might start from your bedroom.
Anyookoo the fire was in Choma and the person who quenched the fire is Mr. Bernard Monze.