National Fire Force Addresses Allegations of Delayed Emergency Response

Bintu Fatmata Kamara Esq, Legal Officer at the National Fire Force, has responded to concerns that the service is often late to emergency scenes. Speaking during the weekly press conference on Tuesday, 21st October 2025, she clarified that while delays can occur, it is not accurate to say the Fire Force is always late. Various challenges along the way can affect how quickly fire engines reach incidents.

Kamara explained that many fires are reported late. Some people do not have the fire service number and, instead of calling immediately, first take photos or videos to share on social media. By the time the Fire Force is informed, the fire may have already spread.

She also highlighted prank calls as a significant problem. In some cases, reports of fires turn out to be false alarms, diverting fire teams away from the station. Sometimes, just after responding to a false call, a real emergency arises, leaving responders unable to react immediately.

Traffic congestion and poor road access are additional causes of delays. Heavy vehicle and foot traffic, especially in busy areas, slows down fire engines, while narrow or inaccessible roads prevent teams from reaching some locations efficiently.

Kamara emphasized that fire commanders leave the station within seconds of receiving a genuine emergency call. She noted that any delay typically occurs during travel to the scene rather than at the station itself.

The National Fire Force continues efforts to improve response times and urges the public to report fires promptly using the official fire service number.