The Gambia Fire and Ambulance Services has claimed that its inability to put out the fire disaster at the Serekunda Market last Saturday was due to “a mechanical problem”.

In a terse press release, the Fire Services asserted that “our fire tenders have never at no time ever turned out without water”. “To do so”, the release claims, “would be self-defeating.”

The tank capacity of the Fire Tenders in the Gambia Fire and Ambulance Services fleet, according to the release, is 400 gallon, which are replenished at all times in readiness for any eventuality.

Last Saturday, a fire outbreak burnt down five shops at the Serekunda Market and destroyed goods worth millions of dalasis.

According to an eyewitness account, the Fire Service arrived at the scene with empty tanks and had to go back, while bystanders helped quench the fire.