A suspected power surge triggered a fire that tore through a duplex and destroyed a shuttle bus in Anambra State, leaving property worth several millions of naira damaged but no lives lost.
The incident occurred at about 6 p.m. on Saturday near Mopol Base Junction, along the Old Amansea-Awka Road, where the flames spread from one apartment to adjoining sections of the building before firefighters brought the blaze under control.
The Anambra State Fire Service said its intervention prevented the fire from reaching neighbouring properties.
Chukwudi Chiketa, Head of the Media and Publicity Unit of the state fire service, confirmed the incident in a statement on Sunday. He said the emergency call was received at about 6:30 p.m., after which firefighters were dispatched with personnel and firefighting equipment.
“Immediately, the Fire Service swiftly mobilised its personnel and fire-fighting equipment to the scene,” Chiketa said.
He explained that firefighters began containment and extinguishing operations on arrival and concentrated on stopping the flames from spreading beyond the affected premises.
The property comprised a duplex with a boys’ quarters apartment, while a shuttle bus was parked within the compound. The intensity of the fire affected several parts of the premises.
According to Chiketa, the damage included roofing materials, household furniture, sections of the walls and other structural components, in addition to the vehicle.
“Through the timely intervention of the firefighters, the fire was successfully contained and extinguished before it could spread further,” he said.
A preliminary assessment by the fire service attributed the outbreak to a power surge. Chiketa said there was no fatality or injury recorded in the incident.
The emergency response was completed within about an hour. After extinguishing the flames and checking the location for safety, firefighters secured the scene before leaving at approximately 7:30 p.m..
The incident caused panic among residents as they attempted to remove belongings from the building while the fire intensified.
Although the blaze caused substantial damage to the property, its spread was restricted to the affected compound. The fire service credited the prompt response of its personnel with preventing further destruction in the area.
Chiketa used the incident to stress the importance of early notification during emergencies, noting that a rapid response can help contain a fire before it causes more extensive damage.
“Make that call in time, and get swiftiest response of the Fire Service,” he said.
The fire service did not disclose the estimated monetary value of the damaged property beyond stating that the losses ran into several millions of naira.
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