Curious people
4.55 p.m., I was down the stairs of Antaninarenina when I saw 2 trucks of firefighters. Suddenly, I heard people screaming then turned my head to the Esplanade Analakely, I could see smoke from… I was not sure until I came nearer… I could see smoke from a Gargote.
Normally, I used to think that running and gathering to see what’s happening was silly, though today, automatically, I run while trying to take out my camera (watching around if doing so was safe 😀 ). Arrived at the burning wreckage, the crowd had already surrounded the place, disturbing the firefighters. They angrily instructed these people to move back. As I talked to a responsible, I could come nearer the zone and take some pics.
Firefighter in action
Quickly, the firefighters opened the Gargote, pulled their big pipes and watered the room on fire. The led-firefighter calmed down the curious people around, there was noone inside, only materials. Everything in the little gargote was burnt and destroyed: table, chairs, plates, …
Damaged materials
What interested everyone as well was to know the source of the fire. A young lady who is working at the Gargote, on her way home, was called by the neighbors and came back to see the damage. Another lady, the owner, also arrived. I tried to talk to them and asked what may have caused the fire. They pretended not to know, though the proof was there, the firefighters discovered a charcoal fire.
The source of the fire
Fortunately, the firefighters were on time, if not the whole block would have been set on fire.
Such case of frogotten fire charcoal or candles has already destroyed many homes and killed several people in Madagascar. I sincerely hope that, at least the crowd who were present today, would be more cautious in future.
DagoTiako 
7 comments
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May 19, 2009 at 10:47 pm
jogany
how long did it take for firefighters to get there?
usually…they take a while…i mean…a WHILE….even if it’s on the other side of the street…
was somebody harmed this time? I hope everyone was safe at this tiny gargote and around
May 20, 2009 at 7:33 am
Tahina
A real reporter :p
Charcoal cooker, iron and so on can ignite a fire so watch out. If I’m not wrong the same thing happened at Andravoahangy and left more than a hundred of houses burnt.
May 20, 2009 at 12:58 pm
moonlightgirl
Great Talent
always there at the right time
May 20, 2009 at 2:01 pm
Romi
Great scene reporting!
“the crowd had already surrounded the place, disturbing the firefighters.”
What is it with people and their morbid curiosity that gets them in the way of emergency workers doing their job. It’s the same here: crowds gather and firefighters (or police) need to spend valuable time to get these people to move away. If it was their home going up in flames, I’m sure they’d react differently.
May 20, 2009 at 2:21 pm
andy
it could have been another black day but it seems the firefighters come as they wish. Where were them on BLACK MONDAY!?!
May 20, 2009 at 2:49 pm
ariniaina
thx for the comments guyz
This time, it took only 15minutes for the firefighters to come. Mannn, for a little fire they can come quickly but when you need them to save lives, hundred of houses… seems like they’re always late.
Jogany, fortunately, noone was left inside the room on fire.
June 21, 2009 at 12:06 am
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