Vehicle Engulfed in Flames in Wilberforce, Freetown

A vehicle was completely destroyed by fire on Monday morning in the Wilberforce area of Freetown, triggering panic among commuters and causing a temporary traffic standstill before firefighters brought the situation under control.

The incident reportedly occurred at about 9:45 a.m., attracting a large crowd of onlookers, including motorists, commercial bike riders, and pedestrians who gathered as flames rapidly engulfed the vehicle.

Eyewitnesses said thick black smoke was first seen rising from the engine compartment moments before the fire escalated and the vehicle was fully engulfed.

The sudden blaze caused panic in the busy area, leading to a temporary gridlock as traffic came to a halt.

Personnel from the Sierra Leone Fire Force responded shortly after the outbreak and successfully extinguished the fire, preventing it from spreading to nearby properties and other vehicles.

Fortunately, no fatalities or injuries were reported.

While authorities have not yet issued an official statement on the cause of the fire, preliminary eyewitness accounts suggest the incident may have been triggered by an internal electrical fault in the engine compartment.

Investigations are expected to determine the exact cause of the blaze.