The fire prevention officer, Abia State fire service, Mr Chukwuemeka Okezie said fire incident that razed upto 50 shops in Uratta timber market started around 1am today Thursday this morning before the fire fighters in Aba with their colleagues from Umuahia joined them to stop the fire extending to other places.
Mr Okezie who spoke with our correspondent around 3:21am this morning, added that no life was lost, while they were able to save other thousands of shops in the timber market.
According to the fire prevention officer, the cause of the fire could not be ascertained, but suspected the hips of sawdust, which he said was generating heat.
While advising people to avoid activities that could lead to fire incident including the switching off of electrical appliances, Mr Okezie also encouraged traders to install fire alarm and fire extinguisher, clean their shops off wood dust, dug boreholes in various markets to assist them whenever there is fire incident.
Meanwhile, Abia State government says it received with shock the sad news of the fire incident at dawn at Uratta Industrial Market, Aba, which affected 3 buildings and led to loss of precious goods, and wish to sympathize with those affected by the unfortunate incident.
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu who monitored the situation on hearing of the incident personally ensured the immediate deployment of men of the state fire service and security agents to bring the fire under quick control, hence, preventing other buildings from being affected, wishes to assure the general public that investigations into the remote and immediate causes of the fire incident will commence immediately while those affected will be fully supported so they can recover from the incident as quickly as possible.
In a press statement endorsed by the state commissioner for trade and investment, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, the Governor who dispatched the Executive Chairman of Aba North LGA and representatives of the state Ministry of Trade and Investment to assess the extent of the damage caused by the incident has further directed all market leaders in the state to take necessary measures to protect the markets from fire outbreaks especially during this harmattan season.
While expressing appreciation to God that no life was lost in the inferno, government in the statement wishes to thank men of the state fire service, security agents, especially men of the state police command, Uratta Division, and other citizens who fought gallantly to stop the fire from spreading to other buildings and for protecting the goods of traders in other lines in the market.
