Scores of residents escaped death Saturday night after fire engulfed a one-storey building in Louis Mbanefo Street, Ikenegbu Layout, Owerri, the Imo State capital
Our reporter learnt that the fire consumed one flat and partially damaged the other one on the first floor of the boys’ quarters while the main building(two storey building) and the remaining flats on the ground floors were saved by the men of the state fire service.
It was learnt that although no one was injured in the fire which lasted for almost two hours, property worth millions naira were lost to the inferno.
A member of the state fire service, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said the fire was probably caused by an electric malfunction.
He said, “The two-storey building located at 28 Louis Mbanefo street, Ikenegbu Layout, has a one-storey boys’ quarters behind it. The fire started around 5.30pm from a room on the first floor of the boys’ quarters and spread through the roof to the other flat on the same floor. Furniture, electronics and other house hold items were all consumed.
“We received a distress call and we immediately came in the scene. That’s why we were able to save the building and other damages because after an hour and a half, we were able to put out the fire. There were no casualties in the fire.”
