Several fire incidents have occurred in different parts of Anambra State, resulting in damage to goods and property between Sunday and Tuesday.
The Anambra State Fire Service has attributed these outbreaks to carelessness and the dry weather conditions, particularly bush burning.
The first fire incident took place at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka on Sunday. The fire, which broke out in the early hours, was linked to bush burning and mishandling of the fire.
Though no lives were lost, the fire damaged one of the university’s buildings located near a bush area.
Firefighters arrived around 12:10 pm and worked until 4:20 pm to extinguish the flames and prevent further spread to nearby buildings.
On Tuesday, two more fire outbreaks occurred in Onitsha and Awka.
The first, at a residential building on Nkisi Road Housing Gate in Fegge, Onitsha, started at around 4:53 pm.
Firefighters quickly responded and were able to control the fire before it caused significant damage.
Later that day, another fire broke out along Ekwueme Square Road in Awka, near XFit, at approximately 1:49 pm. The blaze was caused by a bush fire that had spread uncontrollably.
Firefighters arrived promptly, preventing the fire from reaching nearby properties. There were no fatalities or major property losses in any of the incidents.
The Anambra State Fire Service, under the leadership of Chukwudi Chiketa, confirmed all three incidents in a statement on Tuesday.
The fire service emphasized the dangers of bush burning during the harmattan season, advising residents to take extra caution when clearing bushes to prevent fires from spreading rapidly.
The statement read: “The fire service received a distress call at 12:10 pm on Sunday, December 22, 2024, regarding a fire caused by bush burning at Nnamdi Azikiwe University. Firefighters were dispatched immediately and managed to contain the fire, which affected one building on the premises. The crew left the scene at 4:20 pm.”
It continued, “On Tuesday, December 24, at 4:53 pm, the fire service responded to a fire at Nkisi Road Housing Gate in Fegge, Onitsha. There was no loss of life. Similarly, at 1:49 pm the same day, firefighters responded to a bush fire along Ekwueme Square Road in Awka, preventing it from spreading to nearby buildings. The team left the scene at 2:41 pm.”
The fire service urged residents to be mindful of the dangers posed by bush fires and take necessary precautions, especially during the harmattan season when fire spreads quickly.
