Residents said the fire started around 6:45am. Firefighters were contacted immediately but took almost an hour to arrive, they claimed.
Hundreds of neighbours gathered helplessly as the blaze escalated. With no way to stop the flames, residents of nearby compounds evacuated. Others rushed to remove couches, dining tables, TVs, and valuables from homes closest to the fire.
Tanker driver Saikou Njie told firefighters the vehicle was empty when it caught fire.
“When I woke up, I switched on the vehicle and went inside my room. The tanker was empty. When I came out, I saw smoke coming from the front of the tanker. I used a fire extinguisher but could not stop it. We ran away,” Njie said.
Asked if the tanker had engine problems, Njie insisted it did not. “No, it does not have an electrical problem. I tried to turn it off but it could not be switched off. But it did not have any problem. It is a new tanker,” he said.
Owner Abdou Touray, a Gambian businessman, said the tanker is a 2025 model. “It is brand new with zero kilometres. It is not possible for it to have an electrical problem. For a truck you have to switch it on for it to have air before you drive it, so that is why he switched it on,” Touray told firefighters.
The tanker and the two trucks were all reduced to ashes.
Residents Demand Action
Sirra Chorr, a resident and eyewitness, said her window faced the tankers directly. “The first step was to call the fire service. We switched off our electricity meter and, with neighbours, quickly removed flammable materials to prevent the fire from escalating,” she told The Point.
Chorr said the incident left her family physically and psychologically shaken. “Witnessing such a powerful fire in a residential area was extremely distressing. We feel unsafe in our own home. We now have cracked windows, smoke damage, and the burden of cleaning up burnt debris.”
She added that fear and anxiety remain. “The land is clearly designated for residential purposes only. Allowing fuel tankers for commercial use is a violation. Having commercial fuel tankers in residential areas is a hazard. Action must be taken.”
Dianteric Edward Badjie, a University of The Gambia lecturer and resident, said they have felt unsafe for years. “For three years these trucks have been parking here, destroying our road and posing a threat. They cannot stay here. We don’t make laws. Let those mandated to enforce the laws do their work,” Badjie said.
He noted that title deeds clearly state the dos and don’ts for the estate. “The Ministry of Lands, the police, or any other agency responsible should enforce the law. Not just here, but at every other location suffering the same problem,” he said.
Other residents echoed the call, demanding that authorities stop fuel tankers and trucks from parking in residential areas.
