Liberia: Public Works Ministry, World Bank Donate Fire Suppressant to Monrovia City Corporation

Monrovia, Liberia – In a move to strengthen municipal fire control efforts, the Ministry of Public Works (MPW), in partnership with the World Bank, will on Thursday, February 20, 2025, hand over a significant consignment of fire suppressant concentrate to the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC).

The donation, which includes 80 drums of 200-liter Class A fire suppression concentrate valued at $88,600, is part of a broader initiative under the Liberia Urban Resilience Project (LURP). The fire suppressant, procured from Turkey, is designed to combat landfill fires, particularly at the Wein Town Landfill in Paynesville, where recurrent fire incidents have disrupted waste disposal and posed serious environmental and public health risks.

Often referred to as fire foam, the chemical is highly effective in extinguishing fires by forming a protective blanket over fuel surfaces, cutting off oxygen supply, and preventing re-ignition. This donation marks a milestone in equipping the MCC with essential firefighting resources to address solid waste fires that have plagued Greater Monrovia.

The initiative is part of a larger urban resilience and capacity-building effort targeting Monrovia, Paynesville, Buchanan, Gbarnga, and Ganta under the Liberia Urban Resilience Project (LURP). The six-year project, backed by $40 million in World Bank financing, seeks to enhance urban flood resilience, upgrade drainage systems, and improve basic infrastructure in key urban centers.

The handover ceremony will be attended by Public Works Minister Hon. Roland Layfette Giddings, Monrovia City Mayor Hon. John Charuck Siafa, and key stakeholders in disaster management and solid waste control.