The Anambra State Fire Service has prevented a fire outbreak at the Federal Secretariat, Awka, from spreading to other parts of the complex, with property estimated at more than N200 billion reportedly saved from destruction.
The incident affected a store and an adjoining office occupied by staff of Corixus of Nigeria, a pharmaceutical company.
The Director of the Anambra State Fire Service, Chiketa Chukwudi, said firefighters responded promptly to the distress call and contained the fire before it could spread to other sections of the complex.
Chukwudi estimated the damage at about N1 million, while saying the actual cause of the fire was still being investigated, although a power surge was suspected.
He stressed the importance of having functional fire extinguishers in offices and homes, noting that they are most effective when used at the early stage of a fire outbreak.
The fire service director also urged organisations to ensure that workers are trained to operate fire extinguishers properly.
Similarly, the National Orientation Agency’s Anambra State Public Relations Officer, Anthony Obiora, said workers initially attempted to contain the fire but encountered difficulties because they were unfamiliar with the proper use of the available extinguishers.
Obiora urged workers to immediately alert the Fire Service whenever a fire is noticed, stressing that prompt intervention is critical to preventing minor incidents from escalating.
The situation has since been brought under control, while investigations into the cause of the outbreak continue.
