An AE 90 Toyota Corolla was yesterday completely engulfed and destroyed in a fire, the Seychelles Fire and Rescue Services Agency has confirmed.

The incident occurred at Anse Aux Pins early yesterday morning.

Around 10.15am yesterday smoke could be seen hovering over the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces (SPDF) headquarters at Bel Eau. Our team went to find out what was the issue and we found out that while disposing of flares – usually confiscated from fishermen – one broke and created a sudden burst of bright flames and smoke.

Since Saturday three fire incidents have been recorded, with the latest occurring yesterday morning, according to Jones Madeleine, the public relations officer of the Seychelles Fire and Rescue Services Agency (SFRSA).

In a press interview held yesterday, Mr Madeleine said the first incident took place on Saturday morning at Constance Lemuria on Praslin whereby a fire broke out in the hotel’s electricity panel.

“Once we got to the scene we had to use carbon dioxide as the fire was in an electrical zone, posing a threat to everyone involved,” said the Public relations officer.

In this particular incident the Public Utilities Company had to be called in to cut off the power supply to that area in order to be able to put out the fire.

A two-bedroom house at Dan Koko, Bel Air completely burned to the ground yesterday evening, after a ferocious fire broke out and engulfed the building within seconds.

The wood and corrugated iron dwelling, owned by well-known kite maker Georges Pillay, who also lives nearby, has been unoccupied for the past couple of months after the previous tenants left, and was only furnished with a wardrobe and a shelving cabinet.

According to Mr Pillay, he was alerted about the fire just after 6pm by his neighbours who saw the flames, but by then, the house was completely ablaze.

En madanm aze 48-an, Julie Adrienne, in perdi son lavi dan en dife dan en apartman dan en blok flat Les Mamelles yer gran maten e en lanket i ankour.

Dapre portparol Lazans Servis Tenny Dife ek Sovtaz, Jones Madeleine, zot ti ganny alerte ver 4er35 gran maten lo sa lensidan kot zot ti osi aprann ki ti annan en dimoun ki ti’n pri anndan.

In view of restrictions on account of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the country, the Seychelles Fire and Rescue Services Agency (SFRSA) held low key activities at its headquarters at the New Port yesterday to celebrate International Firefighters' Day 2020.

A minute of silence was observed at midday to honour firefighters who have lost their lives while on duty. This was followed by 30 seconds of sounds of sirens from six of the fire engines in the fleet. The celebration finished with a lunch the firefighters had contributed to.

In his message for the occasion, the deputy chief fire officer, Regis Bethew, reminded the firefighters to remain engaged and focused on their mandate which is to save and protect life and property.

“Therefore, you need to continue prepare, commit and sacrifice yourself for the safety of others, especially during the countless minutes and hours, and further throughout the months and years,” he said.

He reminded that in all relevant cases and incidents, their courage, selfless devotion/ support and true professionalism, are always something for we, members of the public, to admire and appreciate.

Mr Bethew stated that the agency has and will always remember and recognise the good work of all the fire officers and firefighters in Seychelles including those who have left the job but are still holding the profession in their hearts.

“It is therefore with these few words that we would like to wish you all the best and prosperity in your beloved career as a firefighter,” he added.

Every year, the agency holds a series of activities, jointly with the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) Fire services, to celebrate International Firefighters' Day, with a promotion ceremony for fire officers as the main event among other forms of entertainment. For the first time last year, the firefighters paraded in town with their firefighting machines and other firefighting equipment in an attempt to bring their firefighting skills closer to the public.

Mr Bethew noted that the parade in town was greatly appreciated by the public but unfortunately it cannot be repeated this year, among other new activities, in view of the COVID-19 restrictions.

He however noted that SFRSA has, as usual, been working on a 24-hour basis during the restriction period.

He said they have mostly been attending to more rescues in road accidents as compared to fire incidents, among which was the fire in an apartment at Les Mamelles early yesterday morning in which a woman lost her life.