Three former distinguished fire chiefs from Minnesota, USA, will arrive in Liberia on Friday to assist in the ongoing investigation of the devastating fire that engulfed the Capitol Building, which houses the National Legislature in Monrovia, a few months ago. This collaborative effort comes in response to a formal request from the Liberian government, seeking international expertise to join our team to determine the cause of the capitol building fire and recommend measures to prevent future incidents.
The delegation includes Former Chief Kenneth Prillaman, Brooklyn Park, MN and Wichita Falls, TX Fire Departments; Former Chief Mark Lynde, Hanover and Osseo, MN Fire Departments; and Former Chief and Emergency Manager Jerry Streich, Andover and Centennial, MN Fire Departments.
“We are honored to provide our expertise in support of the Liberian government,” said Fire Chief (Ret.) Prillaman of the Fire Rescue Alliance. “We love the republic and are excited to be back on Liberian soil. We aim to conduct a thorough investigation, share best practices, and help strengthen fire safety protocols to protect critical infrastructure.”
Chief Prillaman added, “We remain hopeful we can have a material impact and bring much-needed closure to this issue.”
During their visit, the fire chiefs will collaborate with the Liberia National Fire Service (LNFS) and the Liberia National Police (LNP), inspect the Capitol Building site, analyze physical evidence on the scene, and interview first responders and witnesses.
The Minnesota-based team’s involvement underscores the importance of international partnerships in addressing public safety challenges.
The three have over 90 years of experience and are familiar with Liberia, having trained officers of the LNFS and visited the country many times before. The final investigative report will be shared with the Liberian government to pursue prosecution and support future fire prevention initiatives.
Source: Liberian Observer
