Harare, (New Ziana) – The City of Harare Fire Brigade has contained a major fire that broke out at the Glen View 8 Home Furniture Complex on Friday morning, after battling the blaze for several hours.
The fire destroyed furniture, timber and other goods worth thousands of United States dollars, leaving traders and artisans counting their losses. The exact value of the damage was not immediately available.
The complex accommodates an estimated 4 000 carpenters, furniture manufacturers and informal traders who produce and sell a wide range of furniture, including sofas, chairs, wardrobes, beds and other timber-related products.
To maintain a continuous firefighting operation, the City of Harare said it deployed water tankers to support the fire engines, enabling the firefighters to replenish their water supplies at the scene instead of repeatedly returning to the station.
City of Harare Corporate Communications Manager, Stanley Gama commended the Fire Brigade for containing the blaze, which he said had threatened nearby homes.
“The fire was eventually contained after hours of heroic work by our Fire Brigade. These men and women have shown time and again that they will deliver when called to duty.
“I’m told the fire was threatening even nearby homes but our fire teams managed to contain the situation. We are still investigating the cause of the fire,” said Gama
Gama said firefighters had managed to prevent the fire from spreading to surrounding residential properties.
The cause of the latest fire remains unknown.
The incident is the latest in a long series of fires to hit the Glen View 8 complex. Previous reports have documented numerous major outbreaks over the past decade, with traders repeatedly suffering substantial losses.
In 2015, a major fire destroyed millions of dollars’ worth of property at the complex, while subsequent outbreaks were reported in 2018, 2022, 2024 and 2025. Another major blaze struck the facility in May 2026, followed by a further fire in August.
The repeated incidents have raised concerns over fire safety at the complex, where large quantities of timber, sawdust, paint, thinners and finished furniture are stored in closely packed workspaces.
Authorities have previously cited congestion, inadequate firefighting infrastructure and limited access for emergency vehicles among the challenges confronting the complex.
Government and the City of Harare have been working on plans to relocate traders and redevelop the site, with proposals including improved water supplies, fire hydrants, access routes and other safety infrastructure.
New Ziana
