Property worth millions was this morning reduced to ashes after a fire razed down a mattress manufacturing company in Thika. The fire broke out at the stores and burnt all the mattresses that were packed ready for transport.  The fire spread to the outside buildings and to the parking lot where two pick-up trucks were burnt. Other raw materials were destroyed in the incident.

Though the Thika fire brigade arrived on time and contained the fire,the damage had been done. It is suspected that the fire might have been caused by an electric fault occasioned by a technical repair by one of the industry’s workers after it failed for some minutes.This is the second time in a span of a year after a similar inferno in November last year hit the same company.

Thika OCPD Erastus Muthamia has confirmed that the fire was caused by electric disruption in the industry and that no criminal activity is suspected.

"It was an accident. There was no criminal related activity and we have confirmed that. The company will have to check on their electric system as I am informed this has been their biggest challenge since they opened,” Muthamia said.

The company employs more than 300 people.