Midlands Hotel Room Gutted by Electric Kettle Fire
n By Dumisani Ndlovu n nn n GWERU – A fire that erupted at the renowned Midlands Hotel was caused by an unattended electric kettle, according to the Fire Brigade. The blaze, which occurred last week, destroyed a guest room, but fortunately,
anostrofy By Dumisani Ndlovu
GWERU – A fire that erupted at the renowned Midlands Hotel was caused by an unattended electric kettle, according to the Fire Brigade.
The blaze, which occurred last week, destroyed a guest room, but fortunately, no injuries were reported. The incident triggered panic in the Central Business District and sparked concern on social media.
Chief Fire Officer Felix Muguti confirmed that the fire likely started from an electric kettle that had been left on without supervision.
“We received a distress call and upon arrival, we found that the stairwell doors were locked. As a result, we had to use ladders to reach the first floor. We also had to break through the ceiling to contain the fire, which was beginning to spread,” Muguti explained.
The Gweru City Council Fire Brigade managed to extinguish the flames and prevent the fire from affecting other parts of the hotel.
Although no injuries or fatalities were reported, the affected room and its contents—including beds, clothing, and personal belongings—were completely destroyed.
Efforts to reach the hotel’s general manager, Shadreck Zanga, for comment were unsuccessful as his mobile phone could not get through.
