Panic gripped residents of the commercial city of Onitsha, Anambra State when a fire incident occurred at a residential building located along Nkisi Aroli Street, behind St. Charles College.
PUNCH Metro correspondent gathered that the fire which occurred on Tuesday burnt for several hours before the intervention of firefighters who had difficulties in accessing the vicinity due to the lack of access roads and the nature of the area.
Although there was no casualty recorded and its cause had yet to be ascertained, the fire razed the building and some property in it.
One of the eyewitnesses near the scene, who spoke with PUNCH Metro on Wednesday, on the condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to talk with the media, said, “The fire suddenly started from a corner of the building yesterday (Tuesday), before escalating into other areas. It burnt 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 long 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 the red alert and also assisting the firefighters to ensure the situation was under control.”
The Media and Publicity Unit of the Anambra State fire service, led by the state fire chief, Chukwudi Chiketa, who confirmed the development in a statement on Wednesday, said two crews of firefighters and two firefighting trucks were deployed to the scene after a distress call was received by the fire service.
Chiketa said, “Anambra State Fire Service on Tuesday, June 17, intervened and contained a fire 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, two crews of firemen and two firefighting trucks were immediately 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, the firemen 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 1205 hours of the same day.”
The fire chief advised landlords and houseowners as well as community leaders to always consider and ensure access roads for free flow of vehicular movement, especially firefighting trucks in any case of emergency.
“The firemen’s experience at the scene is highly condemnable as lack of access roads for firefighting truck 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.
