For Mr Matthew Kaugiria, a Meru lorry driver with 17 years of experience, Friday was a normal day at work until a fire incident instantly turned him into a hero to residents of Kwa Nthambi, Meru town.
The day was calm and business was brisk in the populous Kwa Nthambi and Majengo estates at midday on Friday when screams rent the air as a ball of fire raced through the busy Kwa Nthambi–Majengo road.
A lorry carrying a high load of dry grass had accidentally hit low-lying power lines above the road, causing a short circuit and sparking a fierce “moving” fire.
Driver recounts how he steered burning lorry away from populous estate
Behind the steering wheel of the heavily laden lorry was Mr Kaugiria, while in the co-driver’s seat was his customer of the day and hay seller, Mr Joseph Gituma.
“I was driving along Kwa Nthambi Road when I heard pedestrians and bystanders screaming and pointing at my lorry as boda boda riders hooted to alert me of something.
“It is then that I learnt that my lorry was on fire. At that instant, I started looking for ways of driving the burning load away from the populous estate,” Mr Kaugiria told the Daily Nation.
As panic and tension gripped the neighbourhood, Mr Kaugiria did not lose control of the situation.
Through the quick intervention of residents familiar with the estate, the driver reversed the burning lorry as boda boda riders led him away from the busy streets.
“I could have panicked and stopped driving immediately I learnt of the fire. However, aware that the fire was likely to cause a lot of damage, I continued driving away, guided by residents,” he recounted.
Videos recorded as the potentially tragic incident unfolded show balls of burning hay falling off the lorry as Mr Kaugiria drove towards River Kathita, about 500 metres away.
Matthew Kaugiria, Meru’s heroic driver who drove burning lorry away from populous Meru town estate, and escaped with severe burns.
Photo credit: David Muchui | Nation Media Group
The aftermath of the shocking incident is still visible, with charred heaps of grass lying on the cabro-paved streets of Kwa Nthambi and withered trees along the escape route.
Mr Collins Mwenda, one of the residents who helped the driver navigate his way out of the estate, described Mr Kaugiria’s act as heroic and worthy of commendation.
“We hurriedly guided the driver towards the river, where we knew we could easily put out the fire. We are glad that the driver is a very brave man because he did not abandon the steering wheel,” Mr Mwenda said.
As the raging fire intensified, Mr Kaugiria raced downhill towards the river, braving burns to his face and right hand.
He managed to plunge the lorry into River Kathita as locals rushed in armed with pails and buckets to put out the fire, bringing an end to the horrendous ordeal.
When we met Mr Kaugiria, he had already been rushed to hospital, where the burns on his arm had been bandaged.
“As I was driving away, the burning grass entered through the window and burned my face and arm. I drove the vehicle straight into the river. I am thankful that I survived the horrible experience,” he explained.
“This driver is a hero and a selfless man who deserves recognition. If he didn’t do what he did, nearby timber houses could have caught fire. We are yet to understand how he maintained his cool while his life was in extreme danger. May God bless him,” Ms Wendy Karambu, a resident of Majengo, said.
The vehicle was later towed out of the river with minor damage, much to the excitement of the driver and the locals.
However, the incident has brought to the fore the ineffectiveness of the Meru County fire and rescue team, whose station is located less than one kilometre from the scene.
In the past, county government officials have cited stalled fire engines and lack of fuel as reasons for the team’s ineffective response to fires and other emergencies.
