Blaze engulfs bank, bookstore, and several stores in Anambra

Millions of naira worth of property has been lost in a series of devastating fire outbreaks that ravaged three separate locations in Anambra State, including a commercial bank, a bookshop, and a commercial building housing 10 shops in Awka and Onitsha.

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Between Monday and Tuesday, fires broke out at Keystone Bank on Port Harcourt Road in Fegge, Onitsha, and a bookshop building on No. 3 Venin Ezeani Street, Awada, Onitsha, causing significant damage to the affected structures.

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A one-storey commercial building along Ifite Road, Amaenyi, Awka, was also engulfed in flames, destroying two shops and their contents, in an incident that has left many reeling from the loss.

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An eyewitness account revealed that the fire at the bank started with thick smoke emanating from the network area, burning for several minutes before firefighters arrived to extinguish the flames and secure the area.

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Security operatives quickly cordoned off the area to prevent any potential breakdown of law and order, ensuring that the situation remained under control until the fire was brought under control.

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On Wednesday, the state's fire service chief, Chukwudi Chiketa, confirmed the incidents, stating that firefighters had successfully contained the fires and prevented them from spreading further, thanks to their prompt response.

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Chiketa attributed the fire at the bank to a power surge, while the commercial building fire was caused by an electrical fault, possibly involving an electric iron that had been left unattended.

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The cause of the fire at the bookshop, however, remains unknown, as investigations are still ongoing to determine the source of the outbreak.

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According to Chiketa, the fire at the commercial building started at midnight, requiring firefighters to battle the flames until the following day, in a grueling effort to bring the situation under control.

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The Anambra State Fire Service responded to the three separate fire incidents between Monday and Tuesday, successfully containing the fires and preventing any loss of life, in a testament to their bravery and quick thinking.

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The incidents occurred at Keystone Bank, Port Harcourt Road, Fegge, Onitsha, a one-storey commercial building at Ifite Road, Amaenyi, Awka, and a bookshop building at No. 3 Venin Ezeani Street, Awada, Onitsha, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.

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At about 12:05 midnight on Monday, a fire outbreak was reported at Ifite Road, Amaenyi, Awka, prompting firefighters to rush to the scene, where they found two shops on the first floor of a one-storey commercial building engulfed in flames.

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The fire affected the roofing materials, portions of the walls, and some properties stored inside the affected shops, causing significant damage to the structure and its contents.

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Firefighters successfully contained and extinguished the fire, securing the scene before withdrawing from the area, and fortunately, no casualties or injuries were recorded.

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At about 09:08 hours on Monday, the Anambra State Fire Service received a distress call concerning a fire outbreak at Keystone Bank, Port Harcourt Road, Fegge, Onitsha, prompting a swift response from the firefighters.

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The crew on duty discovered that the fire had affected only the bank's network equipment/room, and through their prompt intervention, the fire was contained, preventing it from spreading to other parts of the building and surrounding structures.

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The incident was attributed to a power surge affecting the network equipment, and fortunately, no casualties were recorded, in a relief to all concerned.

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The crew returned to the station at about 1129 hours of the same day, after ensuring that there was no possibility of further escalation, marking the end of a successful operation.

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At about 0735 hours, the Anambra State Fire Service received a distress call concerning a fire outbreak at No. 3 Venin Ezeani Street, Awada, Onitsha, where a bookshop was located, prompting a rapid response from the firefighters.

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Fire service personnel promptly responded to the incident and worked to contain the fire, although the cause of the outbreak remains unknown at the time of this report.

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Chiketa urged residents, business owners, and property owners to observe basic fire safety measures, avoid leaving electrical appliances unattended, and report fire emergencies promptly to enable firefighters to respond before incidents escalate, in a bid to prevent similar tragedies in the future.