A group of workshop delegates were forced to abandon their seminar as they scampered to safety after discovering the grass thatched building they were conducting business from at Chimwemwe Lodge was burning down from the top.

Chimwemwe Executive Lodge is a famous luxurious facility located at the Petauke turn off in Petauke district of Eastern Province.

In an interview with News Diggers! lodge supervisor Tasila Tembo explained that the fire started from the nearby bush but spread to the buildings following a wind.

“The fire started from the bush behind, but there was some wind and that forced the fire to spread to the old building and later to the main conference building and to the building that houses the dining, kitchen, bar, and administration,” explained Tembo.

She said the fire was put out shortly after it spread to one of the chalets, leaving the two key buildings burnt to ashes.