File photo: Map of Anambra State

Property estimated to be worth millions of naira has been destroyed in three separate fire outbreaks that affected a commercial bank, a bookshop building and a one-storey commercial building with 10 shops in the Awka and Onitsha parts of Anambra State.

Our correspondent gathered that the incidents, which occurred between Monday and Tuesday, affected Keystone Bank along Port Harcourt Road in Fegge, Onitsha; and a bookshop building located at No. 3 Venin Ezeani Street, Awada, Onitsha.

The third fire incident occurred at a commercial building housing about 10 shops located along Ifite Road, Amaenyi, Awka, razing about two shops and the goods inside them.

An eyewitness near one of the scenes narrated, “The fire started with thick smoke around the bank’s network area. It burnt for several minutes before the arrival of firefighters. Security operatives cordoned the area to avoid any breakdown of law and order until the fire was contained.”

When contacted by our correspondent on Wednesday, the state’s fire service chief, Chukwudi Chiketa, confirmed all the incidents, adding that firefighters promptly arrived at the scenes and successfully contained the fire and prevented it from spreading further.

Chiketa attributed the bank inferno to a power surge, while that of the commercial building was caused by an electrical fault, possibly involving an electric iron.

According to him, the cause of the fire at the bookshop couldn’t be ascertained as at the time of filing this report.

He added that the fire at the commercial building started at midnight, prompting firefighters to battle it till the following day, saying, “The Anambra State Fire Service has responded to and successfully contained three separate fire incidents recorded in Awka and Onitsha between Monday and Tuesday.

“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. No life was lost in any of the incidents.

“At about 12:05 midnight on Monday, residents and people living within the neighbourhood reported a fire outbreak at Ifite Road, Amaenyi, Awka. Firefighters were immediately deployed to the scene, where they found that the fire had affected two shops on the first floor of a one-storey commercial building containing 10 shops.

“The fire affected the roofing materials, portions of the walls and some properties stored inside the affected shops. The fire was suspected to have been caused by an electrical fault, possibly involving an electric iron that was left plugged in and overheated.”

According to him, firefighters successfully contained and extinguished the fire, and secured the scene before withdrawing from the area, adding that fortunately, no casualty or injury was recorded.

He said, “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.

“The crew on duty immediately mobilised to the scene, where they discovered that the fire had affected only the bank’s network equipment/room.

“Through the prompt intervention of the firefighters, the fire was contained, preventing it from spreading to other parts of the building and surrounding structures. The incident was attributed to a power surge affecting the network equipment, while no casualty was recorded.

‘The crew returned to the station at about 1129 hours of the same day, after ensuring that there was no possibility of further escalation.”

According to him, the fire at the bookshop building occurred 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. The affected property was identified as a bookshop.

“Fire service personnel promptly responded to the incident and worked to contain the fire. The cause of the outbreak remains unknown at the time of this report,” the state’s fire service chief added.

He 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.