2008-05-27Staff Report 2 "By Anna Ingwafa ONDANGWA Metro Supermarket in Ondangwa was reduced to ashes by a mysterious fire that started at around midnight on Thursday, said the regional police commander. Oshana Police Regional Commander, Deputy Commissioner Ndahangwapo Kashihakumwa, said the police were alerted between 01h00 and 02h00. ""Immediately after I was notified, I sent my team and instructed them to inform the Ondangwa Town Council in order to have the fire brigade ready."" Floor supervisor, Lukas Shilongo, said he was called at around 03h00 and when he arrived at the scene, flames were up and the whole shop was engulfed in flames. The security guard who was on duty noticed smoke on top of the corrugated iron sheets and alerted his supervisors who later contacted the police. Though the Ondangwa Town Council fire brigade arrived at the scene shortly after receiving a report, none of the goods could be saved. It took the Ondangwa Town Fire Brigade about seven hours to extinguish the fire, a problem that was attributed to the poor quality of existing fire extinguishers. Kashihakumwa appealed to the town council to avail money in their budget to purchase appropriate equipment for fire fighters. The cause of the fire is not yet known but police investigations are continuing. According to the police, no one was hurt in the blaze. Metro Ondangwa employs 24 full-time employees according to Shilongo. " 2008-05-27Staff Report 2
