By Izunna Okafor, Awka
A firefighter with the Anambra State Fire Service has been critically injured while battling a fire outbreak that occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Onitsha, Anambra State.
According to a statement issued by the Head of Media and Publicity Unit of the State Fire Service, Mr. Harrison Nwaegwu, the fire incident took place at a residential building located at Okosi by Ugwunaobamkpa Junction in Onitsha.
He said the State Fire Service was alerted about the incident at exactly 5:55 a.m., and without hesitation, a team of firemen with firefighting equipment was deployed to the scene. He added that the operatives successfully battled and contained the raging inferno, preventing it from spreading further and causing more damage.
According to him, however, one of the firefighters sustained severe injuries in the process and was quickly rushed to a nearby hospital for urgent medical attention. Although, no further update was given on the officer’s condition at the time of filing this report; the statement, however, hints that the degree of the injury was “high.”
The statement further adds that the actual cause of the fire remains unknown, pending further investigations.
According to Nwaegwu, the Fire Service team returned to their station at approximately 9:13 a.m., after ensuring that the fire was fully extinguished and the area was safe.
The Anambra State Fire Service also expressed gratitude to members of the public who assisted in ensuring the success of the firefighting operation, as well as to the Mayor of Onitsha North who sent a delegation to visit and sympathize with the injured fireman at the hospital.
The Service further used the opportunity to reiterate its call on the general public to be conscious and cautious of fire-related hazards, warning that while fire can be deadly, it is also preventable when proper safety measures are observed.
“We continue to advise the public to be conscious of fire, it kills but can be prevented,” it concluded.
Watch the video below:
