The Liberia National Fire and Rescue Service (LNFRS) has dismissed allegation that the home of the newly elected Chairperson of the Unity Party was set ablaze as a result of arson attack or petrol bombing.
Fire Service Director Alex Dixon explained that Rev. Luther Tarpeh’s residence gutted fire through the boy’s quarter as the result of the ‘careless use of electricity.
Col. Dixon stated that through a professional fire service investigation, the fire fighters unearthed that some appliances in the reported building were not being used properly which caused the power to overcome the extension cords that were plug to the main current line.
According to him, the testimonies that were collected from people residing in the yard of Chairman Tarpeh are far different from what the Unity Party and other pressure groups are parading with that the government sponsored thugs to attack members of the opposition party.
He said the false accounts that are circulating in the public space through politicians and others are meant to turn the minds of the people from the workings of government for what he termed as hate for one another.
Speaking at a special edition of the Ministry of Information press briefing at the weekend, the LNFRS Director said if the credibility of the report is questioned and goes contrary to any international investigation that could be conducted anytime soon; he should be dismissed by the President.
He maintained that the clergy’s son identified as Aaron told investigators that there was a very huge smoke in the living room of the boys’ quarter at about midnight when the Rev. Tarpeh gave instruction that the generator serving the compound be shut down to be replaced by the solar panel.
In the report, Director Dixon added that an arson could not in any way start to burn from the living most especially the boys’ quarter that is about 17 feet away from the building in which the chairperson resides.
He warned politicians and others to stop spreading false news about disaster and causes that are concerns to national security and the well-being of the citizenry.
He revealed that upon receiving a communication on the night of the incident, the fire fighters got into a trap with some angry mob who said the truck arrived late to quench the fire.
