Joint Briefing on Sethi Brothers Fire Incident -Govt Agencies Reveal Details of Disaster Response

MONROVIA – A devastating fire at the Sethi Brothers steel and plastics factory in Liberia’s Gardnersville district has raised serious concerns about public health, environmental safety, and industrial regulations. The blaze, which burned for nearly 19 hours, triggered multiple chemical explosions, forced community evacuations, and left residents grappling with respiratory problems and other health issues. As The ANALYST’S GEORGE C FlomO reports, Government agencies, including the Liberia National Fire Service, National Disaster Management Agency, and Environmental Protection Agency, have provided a joint briefing on the incident, revealing the scale of the disaster and the ongoing risks to the community.

The Senior Joint Technical Disaster Management Team, comprising the Liberia National Fire Service (LNFS), the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has provided a detailed briefing on the catastrophic fire incident that occurred at the Sethi Brothers steel and plastics factory in the Iron Factory Community, Gardnersville.

The incident, which began Saturday evening, triggered multiple chemical explosions, forced community evacuations, and raised serious public health and environmental concerns. The fire burned for nearly 19 hours before being brought under full control.

Fire Service: “Operation Save the Community”

Speaking during the briefing, Hon. G. Wasuwah Barvoul, Sr., Director General of the Liberia National Fire Service, confirmed that the agency received an emergency call at 7:40 p.m. on Saturday, reporting that the GS Enterprise section of the Sethi facility was engulfed in flames.

 A response crew from Fire Station #4 arrived on the scene at 7:53 p.m., conducted a rapid 360-degree assessment, and identified the fire’s origin point as the chemical warehouse.

Preliminary findings revealed that the blaze involved highly flammable chemical products, prompting the deployment of additional fire units from Stations 1, 2, and 4.

Firefighters engaged a foam-based suppression method known as Aqua Foam Forming, due to the volatile nature of the burning chemical substances.

The operation was code-named “Save the Community” and lasted from Saturday night until 2:28 p.m. Sunday afternoon, amid continuous explosions from chemical drums inside the warehouse.

“The facility continued to explode during the response. Our priority was to contain the fire at its source and prevent it from spreading into the densely populated community,” Barvoul explained.

He praised firefighters, the Paynesville City Corporation team, and volunteers for their collaboration in preventing further destruction.

An official cause of the fire is yet to be determined.

NDMA Warns of Long-Term Community Health Risks

NDMA Executive Director Hon. Ansu Dulleh, Sr., described the incident as a major national disaster, affecting residents psychologically, socially, and medically.

According to NDMA’s rapid assessment, explosive pressure forced chemical drums out of the warehouse into surrounding homes, school compounds, public spaces, and drainage systems.

A nearby school — Winner Foundation Institute — was directly affected, leaving children and staff exposed to chemical fumes and possible residue contamination.

Residents reported symptoms including: Difficulty breathing, Burning sensations, Eye irritation, Skin reactions and Panic triggered by smoke and fumes.

Hon. Dulleh emphasized that many of the chemicals involved are known to pose serious hazards, including reproductive threats, carcinogenic effects, and environmental contamination.

“No company should operate in a way that endangers the lives of Liberians,” he asserted, calling on Sethi Brothers management to fully cooperate with authorities.

The NDMA said it will continue coordinating rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure, sanitation systems, and affected public facilities.

EPA Confirms Hazardous Air Quality Levels

Representing the Environmental Protection Agency, Hon. Boley confirmed that EPA field teams conducted air quality tests, which showed levels of hazardous substances far exceeding acceptable public safety limits.

Although the facility is listed as EPA-compliant prior to the incident, Dr. Yarkpawolo confirmed that:

A second major explosion occurred around 4:00 a.m. Sunday, after the initial fire looked contained.

Thick black smoke and chemical fumes spread beyond the factory grounds.

The EPA has restricted access to the site and issued protective equipment to responders.

“These conditions are capable of causing acute respiratory harm, especially for children, pregnant women, and individuals with heart or lung conditions,” he warned.

The EPA disclosed plans for ongoing: Air quality monitoring, Soil and ash testing, Water sampling, Investigators will determine whether environmental laws were violated and whether safety procedures were followed.

Next Steps and Ongoing Investigation

All three agencies confirmed that the investigation remains active and more information will be released as findings emerge.

Meanwhile, community members are strongly advised to: Avoid the affected area, Seek medical attention if symptoms persist, Follow future public safety updates.

The Sethi Brothers facility is one of Liberia’s largest industrial plants engaged in the recycling of scrap metal and production of steel rods, plastics, and paint.

The factory is located in a densely populated section of Gardnersville, raising long-standing concerns about environmental impacts, safety standards, and community exposure to industrial chemical waste.

The joint disaster response team assured the public that government agencies remain fully engaged until the situation is stabilized, environmental risks are neutralized, and affected residents receive the necessary support.