A fire has destroyed 66 electricity poles in Tanzania's Njombe Region, the Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (TANESCO) has said, according to Daily News. The damage is spread across Njombe and Makete districts, where fires have hit power infrastructure in a number of localities.
TANESCO's figures, released yesterday, put the combined total at 66 poles, though the utility noted the fire was still burning when the update was issued. The cause of the fires and the extent of any power interruptions had not been confirmed in the information TANESCO provided.
Why it matters
The loss of dozens of poles in a single region points to a wider risk for Tanzania's distribution network. Poles carry power lines to homes, businesses and public services, so damage on this scale can interrupt supply and force costly replacement work.
TANESCO framed the fires as a threat on both counts. In a public notice, the utility said fires endanger electricity infrastructure, can disrupt power supply and raise the expense of repairing and replacing damaged installations. The incidents have also drawn attention to how safe the distribution network is and what it will cost to restore it.
Where the damage fell
In Njombe District, 39 poles were burnt across seven localities. Mgala and Yakobi each recorded 13 poles, the highest in the district. Utalingolo lost four poles and Utengule three, while Iboya, Image and Igoma each recorded two.
Makete District accounts for the remaining 27 poles. Ikonda recorded the largest number there, with 16 poles, followed by Ilela with five. Ipelele and Lupila each recorded three.
The breakdown shows the damage was not concentrated in one place. It was scattered across more than a dozen localities in two districts, which suggests repair crews will face work spread over a wide area rather than a single site.
TANESCO's warning to residents
In its notice, TANESCO urged residents to take care when burning vegetation for farming and when clearing farmland. Uncontrolled fires can spread and destroy poles and other installations, the utility warned.
The company also asked the public to report suspected deliberate burning, vandalism and damage to electricity infrastructure. Reports can be made to the police or through TANESCO's customer service line, 180, so that the relevant authorities can act.
TANESCO said protecting electricity infrastructure is a shared responsibility and appealed to residents to help safeguard reliable and sustainable electricity services.
The utility did not say in the information it released what started the fires, nor did it confirm whether customers lost power as a result. Those questions remain open.
What to watch: whether TANESCO confirms the cause of the fires and reports on power interruptions, and how quickly the 66 damaged poles are replaced.
