By Izunna Okafor, Awka
A fire outbreak rocked the Okenwa Housing Estate, a popular estate near Anambra State Old Government House in Awka, on Sunday, as firefighters raced to the scene and battled to prevent the flames from spreading to adjoining buildings.
The fire reportedly affected a bungalow within the estate, where residential structures are said to be situated in close proximity to one another, increasing the risks and chances of the spreading faster to other buildings within the estate.
Confirming the outbreak and its intervention in a statement issued on Monday by its Media and Publicity Unit, the Anambra State Fire Service said it received a distress call at about 9:40 a.m. on Sunday, October 25, from residents who reported the outbreak.
The agency said its firefighters were immediately mobilised to the scene, where they commenced firefighting operations and eventually extinguished the blaze, preventing it from spreading to neighbouring properties.
According to the Fire Service, although the cause of the fire is yet to be fully established, preliminary observations suggest that a spark from an electrical circuit may have triggered the outbreak. It, however, said the suspected cause remained subject to confirmation.
The agency said no casualty was recorded in the incident while also confirming that firefighters secured the affected area before withdrawing at about 12:40 p.m.
The Service urged residents to ensure that their electrical installations were properly maintained, avoid overloading electrical circuits and promptly repair faulty wiring to prevent similar incidents.
It also advised members of the public to report fire outbreaks immediately to enable a timely response and minimise damage to lives and property.
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