Ogbete Main Market In Enugu Partly Gutted

Asection of Ogbete Main Market, Enugu was gutted by fire yesterday afternoon, destroying shops, goods among other items worth several millions of naira.

The cause of the fire that started at the foam section of the market, near the Old Park Area, was not ascertained as at press time, but the timely intervention of the men of the Enugu State

Fire Service, saved what could have become a major New Year tragedy.

A source however, told the Guardian that the fire started from upstairs. He stated that one of the generators that supply power to some of the shops ignited at about 2.00pm, adding that a combined effort of the traders who engaged fire extinguishers helped the check its spread before the arrival of the Fire fighters.

Enugu State Chief Fire Officer, Okwudili Oha, who confirmed the incident, said that prompt intervention of his men saved the market from going up in flames.

He recalled that he had embarked on sensitization and education of traders on how to combat fire out breaks using fire extinguishers provided for them by the state government. “That training paid of today when the traders and security men led by Fela, used the knowledge gained from the fire training program to put out the inferno and stop it from escalating. “The fire which started at a foam shop rampaging to adjoining shops was immediately arrested by traders making good use of the fire extinguishers installed in all corners of the market to combat the fire before prompt arrival of the state fire service”, he said