A fire broke out in the dormitory of the Institute of Women for Excellence (IWE), a school in Rwamagana District, burning the belongings of more than 150 students and leaving extensive property damage. Police confirmed the incident on Monday, November 3, adding that no injuries were reported since all students were in class when the fire started. The fire broke out around 10:40 a.m., according to Eastern Province Police Spokesperson SP Hamdun Twizeyimana, who said the Fire and Rescue Brigade responded immediately and contained the flames before they could spread to other buildings. “We received the report at 10:40 a.m. on Monday,” Twizeyimana said. “The Fire and Rescue Brigade rushed to the scene and managed to extinguish the fire completely.” The police officer said the blaze reduced the dormitory and its contents to ashes, destroying mattresses, bedding, and other personal belongings of about 150 students. “We are still investigating the cause of the fire,” he said. “Initial findings suggest it might have been caused by an electrical short circuit.” He urged schools and residents to strengthen fire safety measures by equipping their facilities with firefighting tools and securing insurance for their property. “We call on institutions and individuals to keep fire extinguishers and sand boxes on their premises,” he said. “People should also insure their property and report fire incidents immediately so that emergency teams can respond quickly.” Twizeyimana added that the Rwanda National Police continues to raise public awareness on fire prevention through campaigns in schools, markets, community meetings, and the Private Sector Federation (PSF). “We regularly educate communities about fire safety,” he said. “Everyone must take these lessons seriously so that we can prevent such disasters together.” The school administration has yet to announce how it will accommodate the affected students for the remainder of the term.
