Commercial building gutted by fire in Onitsha

By Phil Okose, Oniitsha

A commercial building was on Friday gutted by fire along Atani/GMO road, Onitsha suburb, Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The Chief Fire Officer, Anambra Fire Service, Mr Chukwudi Chiketa made this known to newsmen in Onitsha, on Friday.

He disclosed that he received a distress call at about 5:17 a. m. and he immediately deployed firefighters and a truck to the scene of the incident and his men fought and contained the ugly situation.

“We received a distress call at about 5:17 a. m. today and I immediately deployed our gallant firefighters to the scene of the fire incident.

“The incident occurred at the top floor of a storey building inside GMO company, situated along Atani/GMO road, Okpoko, Ogbaru Local Government Area.

“Though, the top floor of the one storey building was affected, but there were many savings including other structures and property inside the company’s premises”, he said.

According to him firemen were able to control the fire from escalating beyond the top floor of the building even as the cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained.

He stressed the need for timely contact to fire service in any fire related situation to assist reduce the extent of damage before the arrival of firefighter.