FIRE has gutted Livingstone’s Hungry Lion outlet and the neighboring Kuku Boutique, leaving the building extensively damaged and property destroyed.

The fire, which started in around 14 hours, also partially destroyed the Livingstone Central Shop, although the extent of damage has not been quantified.

Hungry Lion workers talked to anonymously disclosed that the fire started from the kitchen area but could not explain the cause.

There was panic among the workers and customers when the fire started, as management quickly ejected everyone who was in the shop to safety while security sealed off the area as they awaited the fire tender.

When the council fire engines arrived, they constantly ran out of water as they battled to put out the fire.

The inferno was only contained after the Zambia Airports Corporation and Zambia Air Force fire tenders were called in to help.

During the whole time, armed police officers, some with tear gas canisters, were on hand to control multitudes of youths who wanted to take advantage of the situation to loot in nearby shops .

Livingstone mayor Eugene Mapuwo has since urged shop owners to ensure that they have adequate fire extinguishers to handle fire cases before fire tenders arrive.

Mapuwo further urged shop owners to adequately train their staff in handling fire extinguishers effectively.
The Mast