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By: Staff Writer
Private Company Steps In as National Fire Service Faces Equipment Failure
Congo Town, Monrovia — A potential disaster at the Lonestar Cell MTN Headquarters on Sunday was averted after a Sethi Brothers Corporation fire truck swiftly responded to a blaze that broke out on the company’s premises.
According to eyewitnesses and staff on the scene, the fire — which ignited within one of the compound’s outer sections — threatened to escalate and potentially spread toward the main building. But in a dramatic turn of events, Sethi Brothers’ industrial fire engine arrived just in time, providing the critical water supply and pressure needed to subdue the flames.
National Fire Service Arrived First — But Equipment Failed
The Liberia National Fire Service (LNFS) was the first emergency team to arrive. However, responders were unable to extinguish the flames as **their fire engine reportedly failed to pump out water, leaving them momentarily stalled and in urgent need of backup.
With the blaze intensifying and smoke building, LNFS officers reportedly made an emergency appeal for support.
Sethi Brothers Take Control of the Situation
Sethi Brothers Corporation — known for maintaining some of the most reliable private fire engines in the country — dispatched its fire truck to the scene within minutes. The company’s response team acted quickly, bringing the fire under control long enough for the national fire service backup unit to regroup and begin operations.
By the time additional LNFS units arrived, Sethi’s firefighting crew had already contained the blaze to a manageable level, preventing it from spreading into the main structures that house Lonestar Cell MTN’s operations.
Their intervention is being widely praised as the reason the fire did not escalate into a catastrophic loss.
Lonestar MTN Confirms No Injuries, Operations Unaffected
In a statement issued later on Sunday, Lonestar Cell MTN expressed relief that no injuries were recorded and that the fire was swiftly contained without damage to operational equipment or network infrastructure.
The company commended responders for their “swift and coordinated action,” noting that the incident did not impact voice, data, or Mobile Money services.
Private Sector Readiness Praised
Observers say the incident highlights the importance of private-sector emergency readiness at a time when Liberia’s public firefighting capacity remains challenged by aging equipment and logistical constraints.
Sethi Brothers Corporation’s timely response is being lauded across social platforms, with many noting that Liberia’s largest telecommunications operator could have faced a major shutdown had the private company not intervened at the critical moment.
A Potential Disaster Averted
What could have become one of the biggest commercial facility fires in Monrovia in years was ultimately contained without loss of life or disruption to national communication services.
Thanks to Sethi Brothers’ rapid intervention, the Lonestar Cell MTN headquarters avoided what many on the scene described as a “near wipeout.”
