Property worth an estimated Rwf11 million was lost as a result of a fire incident caused by a cooking gas cylinder that exploded from a commercial building located in Rwambogo Cell, Musanze Sector in Musanze District.

The fire incident happened on Sunday around 7.30 pm, after fire exploded and caught roof of the complex and spread to the entire upper part of the building before the police Fire Brigade intervened.

The fire was put out shortly after police arrived at the scene, according to officials.

The building, which is located near the Institut d’Enseignement Supérieur de Ruhengeri (INES-Ruhengeri) in Musanze District, is home to different businesses including stationary store and retail shops.

It also has a residential section.

People operating business in each of the building’s five doors found themselves helpless to stop the fire from spreading due to the fact that none of them had a fire extinguisher.

Jean Dushime, the Executive Secretary of Musanze Sector, told The New Times that the building’s roof was seriously damaged and people operating business in the complex were able to evacuate some of their merchandise.

"Though people tried to evacuate some merchandise, however, goods valued at around Rwf11 million were burnt and it’s a huge loss which would have been avoided had they had fire extinguishers,” Dushime said in a telephone interview on Monday.

He said no casualty was registered in the fire outbreak but insisted that occupants should learn a lesson from the incident and exercise caution when using cooking gas.

The backside of the complex is living quarters for students from INES Ruhengeri.

Dushime regrets that neither the commercial house nor the goods are insured, saying that efforts are being made to mobilize people to insure their properties.

"It’s so strange that properties worth a big amount of money are not insured. Most of them are going to suffer getting back to business as a result. We are putting more efforts to raise more awareness on property insurance,” he said.