Tuesday evening, 26th August 2025 turned into a nightmare in Quatre-Bornes. Shortly after 8 p.m., a fire broke out in the kitchen of an apartment on the third floor of Orchard Tower, Brown Séquard Avenue. In a few minutes, the flames completely devastated the home of a family, one man was seriously injured.
Scenes of panic, screams and haste could be seen in the area. In shock, residents had to evacuate their homes urgently, fearing that the fire will spread to the other floors.
Fortunately, firefighters from the Mauritius Fire and Rescue Services in Quatre-Bornes quickly intervened to control the fire and prevent any recovery. The site was not declared secure until 10:55 p.m. by the Station Officer, and residents were able to return to their apartments around 11 p.m., after more than two hours of waiting on the street, under the eye of the authorities.
According to initial information, a family of three was initially in the disaster-strift apartment. The father of the family, seriously burned, was rushed to the Wellkin Clinic. His condition is considered serious, and he was admitted to intensive care. His wife and child, in shock, were temporarily relocated to another apartment.
The police, the SAMU and the CEB were also on site. A police officer was placed in front of the destroyed apartment, while senior officers, who came to see the extent of the disaster, reassured the residents. An investigation has been opened to determine the exact causes of the fire.
A few hours earlier, it was a house in Petite-Rivière that was ravaged by the flames. A 48-year-old resident was awakened by a smell of smoke. When she ret up, she discovered her living room already in the fire. The flames quickly consumed his furniture: a set of sofas, a television, a piece of furniture, an aluminum door and window, as well as several personal belongings. Even the uniform of his son, a police officer assigned to the coast guard, was destroyed.
Firefighters and the CEB intervened to contain the fire. No injuries were reported, but the property damage was estimated at about Rs 300,000.