By Kamsi Anayo
Residents of Chiene street, Achara layout in Enugu South Council area were on Monday morning, thrown into tension, following a fire incident that engulfed part of a two storey building in the area, damaging house hold properties worth several millions of naira.
As at the time of filing this report the real cause of the mysterious inferno, which started at about few minutes past 7am is yet to be ascertained.
The quick intervention of men of the Enugu state fire Service, prevented the inferno, from spreading to the entire building with almost six flats located at number 7 Chiene street.
Although, no casualty was recorded in the unfortunate incident, the entire properties inside the particular flat where the fire started were completely damaged.
The Octogenarian Widow Land lady of the building, who hails from Oraifite in Ekwusigo Local government area of Anambra state, could not alter a word, when Newsmen visited the scene and made effort to interview her and the daughter who is the occupant of the affected flat, as they looked traumatized.
A neighbour who witnessed the incident, and gave his name as Hon. Chika Nzelu, said “it’s really really sad and unfortunate.
Nzelu, who was a former Aide to the immediate past Governor of Anambra state, Chief Wily Obiano, said residents and passerby made efforts to extinguish the fire to no avail, as it was beyond what they could control with just ordinary water.
He however, commended the Enugu fire fighting men for responding, but regretted that they came a bit late when the fire had almost wreaked serious havoc on the building.
He stressed the need for prompt response during emergencies such as fire disaster.
Also, while speaking to newsmen, leader of the Enugu fire Service team that salvaged the situation, Mr. Chukwuma Ugwuaneke, said “we got a distress emergency call from residents of this area this morning alerting us that there was a fire outbreak at number 7 Chiene street.
“On recieving the call, we immediately mobilized our men and fire engine to the scene. And we thank God that we were able to control and extinguished the fire at the point we met it.”
He therefore, advised Enugu residents to always take fire precautionary measures very seriously, adding that people must always switch off their electrical appliances before going out, clear bushes around their houses especially this period of harmattan, above all ensure that they have fire extinguisher in their homes.
Ugwuaneke, equally urged the people to always call the fire service emergency phone numbers when ever there is fire incidences in their area so as to enable them intervene before such fire escalates to a dangerous level.
