An evening fire has burnt some parts of the building of Practicing Primary School, located inside St. Stephen Anglican Church, Umubelu, Awka, Anambra State.
Although there was no casualty recorded, it was gathered that the fire was caused as a result of bush burning, which occurred late on Saturday and affected some parts of the roofing materials of the school’s classroom blocks.
Some eyewitnesses around the vicinity told our correspondent that the fire burnt for several minutes until men of the state fire service arrived at the scene and stopped it from further escalation to other structures.
When contacted, the head of the Media and Publicity Unit of the Anambra State Fire Service, Chukwudi Chiketa, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on Sunday.
Chiketa said a crew of firefighters and firefighting equipment were immediately deployed to the scene when it received the distress call, and the fire was fought and contained.
He said, “On Saturday, 11 January 2025, at about 4:40 pm, the Anambra State Fire Service received a distress call reporting about a bushfire outbreak at the Practicing Primary School, located inside St. Stephen Anglican Church, Umubelu, Awka, Anambra State.
“Immediately, a crew of firefighters and firefighting equipment were deployed to the scene, and the fire was fought and contained.
“The bushfire outbreak affected some parts of the roofing materials of the school’s classroom blocks but was stopped from further escalation by the Anambra firemen.
“There was no casualty recorded. The firefighters left the scene at 5:45 pm on the same day.”
He cautioned that due to the dry season, people should avoid anything that could cause fire. He noted that people should clear the bushes/grasses in or surrounding their homes, offices, shops, factories, business areas, schools, and churches, among others
Similarly, there was a fire outbreak that occurred at the Lord’s Plaza, in the Onitsha Main Market, by Emeka Ofor, opposite the United Bank of Africa.
Although the cause of the fire could not be ascertained, it was gathered that two lock-up attachment shops on the ground floor of the plaza were affected.
The state fire service chief, who confirmed the development, said, “Earlier in the morning at 6:10 am, a tensed-up woman ran into one of the Anambra State Fire Service Stations situated in Onitsha Main-Market and reported the ongoing fire outbreak at the above-mentioned plaza.
“A crew of firefighters and firefighting equipment were immediately deployed to the scene, and the fire was contained.
“Two lock-up attachment shops on the ground floor were affected. There was no casualty. The firemen departed the scene and returned to the station at about 7:58 am the same morning.
“Be fire conscious. Fire kills, but we can prevent it.”
The state Media and Publicity Unit also confirmed a case of a fire outbreak behind the Security Office, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Campus, Awka.
It said the call was received at about 04:05 pm on Friday, adding that a crew of firemen on duty and firefighting equipment were deployed to the scene immediately, and they contained the fire outbreak.
“No damage nor casualty was recorded. The firemen withdrew from the scene at 05:09 pm on the same day.”
