Traders in the Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas on Thursday night lost property worth millions of naira in two separate fire incidents in the state.
The first was recorded at the Marine Base axis of the metropolis opposite the Plank shade market.
Eyewitnesses said the fire started from a shop at the plank shade in the morning, as thick black smoke was seen billowing into the atmosphere.
One of the eyewitnesses who refused to give his name said the fire was almost put out by residents and shop owners before the arrival of the firefighters.
He stated, “I was called and told that there was a fire in Marine Base. When I came to the place, it was opposite the plank shade but the boys around did well to see that they stopped the fire.
“Fire service came later and completed what the boys started but smoke is still coming out.”
Another resident who gave his name only as Obi said some angry youths chased men of the state fire service when they came, preventing them from doing their job.
“Later on, the firefighters were allowed and the fire was put out. Though a lot of damage has been done and people have lost properties and valuables,” he explained.
Meanwhile, another fire was recorded at a parking space in the Rumueme axis of Mile 4 along Ikwerre Road on Thursday evening which also destroyed several properties.
Our correspondent who visited the scene reports that a rented space was used by a trader to store items including furniture and mattresses, but the cause of the inferno could not be ascertained.
One of the affected residents said she left her apartment a few hours later but was shocked to see fire on her way back while fighting back tears.
According to her, “I just locked my door and I went out. My coming back I saw a crowd shouting fire, fire. “Reaching here I saw the whole mattresses at the back have burnt. It affected my window and most of my things got lost.”
Another resident said, “We just saw the fire but we could not identify where the fire is coming from. I picked up my phone and started calling the fire service. Though they were not picking they later came. There is this man that stored many goods. Some of the goods just came in.
He however while some succeeded in removing their valuables, many did not because they were not around when the inferno started.
He added, “For this man most of the goods were consumed in the fire. But we thank God that no life was lost before the fire was put out.”
Speaking, an official of the Federal Fire Service, who did not want to be named but was at the scene, said they raced to the scene as soon as they received the distressed call and expressed happiness that some properties were salvaged by residents.
Meanwhile, residents of the state have called on the state government to revive the state fire service and make it functional to promptly respond to such emergencies, as about six five outbreaks have been recorded in various parts of the state this December alone.
