Anambra State recently witnessed two separate fire incidents, one resulting in the destruction of a communication mast belonging to a telecommunications company, and another causing extensive damage to a residential building.
The first incident occurred at Billy Okoye Boulevard Street, Agu-Awka, Awka, where a communication mast belonging to an unspecified telecom firm was engulfed in flames. Eyewitnesses attributed the fire to bush burning that spread to the mast’s location. The fire extensively damaged the generator of the mast before the Anambra State Fire Service personnel arrived to contain it. State fire chief Martin Agbili confirmed the incident, noting that the fire was eventually controlled and extinguished. He identified careless bush burning as the cause of the blaze.
In a similar occurrence, a residential building located at No 2, Rockland Estate (Ngozika Estate extension), Awka, was engulfed in flames during a late-night fire incident. The fire, which started from the topmost parts of the building, completely razed it before firefighters arrived at the scene. Agbili confirmed this incident as well, stating that a power surge originating from the master bedroom ignited the fire. Despite efforts to control and extinguish the blaze, the building suffered severe damage.
Agbili emphasized the importance of prompt action during such emergencies, stating that the response time of the fire service is crucial in mitigating damage. He also highlighted the significance of fire extinguishers in preventing extensive destruction, urging property owners to have them readily available.