Renthia Kaimbi
Seventy-five percent of fires recorded in Windhoek last year occurred in informal settlements, the City of Windhoek has revealed.
Windhoek mayor Ndeshihafela Larandja shared the figures during the official opening of International Fire Safety Week 2025 at the City’s Head Quarter Fire Station yesterday.
Larandja said that in 2024, the city’s fire brigade responded to more than 2,000 fire-related incidents, of which nearly 200 were dwelling fires.
“These fires claimed lives, destroyed homes, and wiped away the belongings of families who already had very little,” she said.
The mayor described fires as one of the biggest threats to life and livelihoods in Namibia, particularly in areas with high-density living and limited access to emergency services.
“In Namibia, fires remain one of the greatest threats to life and livelihoods, especially in informal settlements,” Larandja stated.
She also announced a decline in the number of reported fire outbreaks, from 705 in the 2023/2024 period to 569 in the previous financial year.
Larandja attributed this decline to a shift in approach by the city, moving “from reactive actions to risk mitigation and proactive prevention measures.”
“We can thus be assured that there is hope, and that hope lies in awareness, prevention, and collective responsibility,” she said.
This year’s Fire Safety Week is being observed under the theme “Unite to Ignite for a Secure Nation”.
Larandja said the campaign aims to remind residents that fire safety is not just about putting out flames but also about promoting knowledge, responsibility, and solidarity.
She paid tribute to the city’s firefighters, describing them as frontline defenders. “These men and women risk their lives daily to protect us,” she said.
Larandja urged residents to support their efforts by being “fire savvy” and applying safety principles in their homes and communities.
“Fire safety is not just the responsibility of the City of Windhoek Fire Brigade; it is a responsibility we share together,” she said.
Three months ago, reports revealed a sharp increase in shack fires across informal settlements, with 42 incidents and four confirmed deaths recorded between January and June.
The fires had become a recurring tragedy, destroying homes and livelihoods in several constituencies. Tobias Hainyeko, Moses Garoeb, and Samora Machel were among the most affected areas.
Statistics from the Windhoek municipality showed that January recorded the highest number of incidents, with 14 shack fires reported. Between February and March, authorities documented 10 additional cases, while the last three months saw 18 more fires, claiming four lives.
