Entebbe Post bank fire caused by overheated computer- police
Fire trucks parked outside Entebbe Post Bank branch after a fire was reported in one of it's offices on June 19, 2019. Photos by Eve Muganga
ENTEBBE. There was some commotion at Entebbe Post Bank branch located on Trust House in Entebbe municipality after a fire erupted in one of the offices on Wednesday evening.
Police described the 7pm fire as minor saying it started from one of the teller money counting machines and later spread to one of the computers close to it.
Police Director for Fire and Emergency Rescue AIGP Joseph Mugisha said, “One of the workers could have forgotten to switch off the money counting machine which he/she had been using the whole day and perhaps it was overheated and caused the fire,” adding that when they got the call of a fire, they sent the rescue team. “On reaching the scene, the bank was closed, however, one of the workers responded quickly and opened the place. Smoke was emanating from the place and the walls had turned black, " he said.
He added that only the computer and money counting machines were damaged.
“If our team didn't respond fast, the whole bank branch would be ashes but the bank has resumed work," said AIGP Mugisha.
Police and security guards trying to open the door
Kampala metropolitan police spokesperson, Mr Patrick Onyango also said, "There was a minor fire incident at Post Bank branch in Entebbe. It happened at around 7-8 Pm. However, it didn't affect most of the buildings. The team is already on the ground to establish the cause. Police responded quickly to break the fire.”
Efforts to get a comment from the bank’s spokesperson, Ms Jackie Tahakanizibwa failed as our repeated phone calls went unanswered.
On Thursday, an eyewitness, Mr Kevin Scots Gidudu, who owns a beauty parlor on the same building said the bank’s alarm system went on at around 7pm when all the workers had left.
“I first ignored the alarms. Even the security guards were there but didn’t notice thinking they were the usual alarms until they saw a lot of smoke emanating from the bank offices. However, Fire brigade from Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and that from Entebbe police station responded quickly to contain the fire,’’ said Mr Gidudu.
