A fire outbreak has occurred at a residential building located along Nkisi Aroli Street, behind St. Charles College, Onitsha, the Anambra State commercial centre.
According to information obtained, the Tuesday fire blazed for several hours before the firefighters arrived on the scene. The area’s poor topography and lack of access roads made it difficult for them to get to the scene.
The structure and some of its properties were destroyed by the fire, despite the fact that no casualties were reported and the reason of the incident is still unknown.
One of the eyewitnesses near the scene and a resident said, “The fire suddenly started from a corner of the building yesterday(Tuesday), before escalating into other areas. It burned for several hours before the intervention of the firefighters, who also had difficulty entering the area.
“The firefighters added additional hoses to their equipment before they were able to battle the fire from a distance of about four poles.
“The incident created panic around the vicinity, especially for residents nearby because of the closeness of the houses as everybody was on red alert and also assisting the firefighters to ensure the situation was under control.”
Two crews of firefighters and two firefighting trucks were sent to the area after the fire service received a distress call, according to a statement released on Wednesday by the Anambra State Fire Service Media and Publicity Unit led by state fire chief Chukwudi Chiketa.
Chiketa said, “Anambra State Fire Service on Tuesday, June 17, intervened and contained a fire outbreak at a residential building located at the No. 12 Nkisi Aroli Street, behind St. Charles College, Onitsha, in Anambra State.
“After the distress call was received, immediately, two crews of firemen and two firefighting trucks were deployed to the scene of the incident.
“Though the two firefighting trucks could not get to the scene of the fire due to the blockage of roads by houses crowded in the area, yet the firefighters did their best by adding over five lengths of hoses, about four poles from the scene.
“There was no casualty recorded, and the cause of the incident is not yet ascertained. The firemen departed the scene at 12:05 hours of the same day.”
The fire chief recommended landlords and house owners, as well as community leaders, to always examine and guarantee access routes for free flow of vehicular transportation, especially firefighting trucks in any situation of emergency.
“The firemen’s experience at the scene is highly condemnable as a lack of access roads for firefighting trucks led to much damage, even when firefighters arrived at the scene on time.
“While the Firemen are diligently and gallantly serving the people, the people should as well assist in providing free access roads and security for the Firemen,” the statement added.
