TheNewsGuru

Tag: Fire

  • FAAN Alerts Airlines about Fire Incident at MMIA

    FAAN Alerts Airlines about Fire Incident at MMIA

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has recorded another fire incident in one of its airports.

    Yesterday fire started inside the premises of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos and spread through the bush surrounding one of the runways of the airport and would have spread further but for immediately action taken by FAAN, which deployed its fire fighters to put of the fire.

    The inferno was said to spread very fast because of the harmattan and was encroaching the runway when the fire fighters intervened.

    In reaction to the incident, FAAN alerted airlines about the fire, which it said occurred around Runway Safety Area (RESA) of the airport.

    A statement from the agency, signed by the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, informed airline operators and other airport users “that a bush fire incident has been reported around the RESA of 36L, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.”

    The statement said that FAAN deployed officers of the Air Rescue and Fire Fighting Services (ARFFS) to put out the fire.

    “However, the incident did not affect flight operations as normal flight operations continues unhindered,” the agency said.

    About 10 days ago fire that started from outside spread into the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa and almost burnt the runway, forcing airlines to abort flights to the airport and FAAN to temporarily close the facility.

    The Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) had warned of the harmmatan weather that is prone to spreading fire.

    Besides the fire incident at the airport, there have been reports of many other fire incidents in Lagos in the last five days.

  • BREAKING: Fire guts plank market in Mushin [Video]

    BREAKING: Fire guts plank market in Mushin [Video]

    Fire has gutted Amu Plank and Building Material market in Mushin, Lagos state destroying properties worth hundreds of millions in the early morning of Saturday, TheNewsGuru, TNG reports.

    The source of the fire remains unknown but the fire has since destroyed many shops and planks in the market.

    According to eyewitnesses, the Lagos State Fire Service did not arrive the scene three hours after the fire began.

    A victim of the fire, Oluwatoyin Atanda, says her family has lost all they have to the fire. “Our assets, where almost all my family members get their income from. It’s disheartening to see their goods go down in flames with no help coming four hours after. The bravest and strongest man (my dad) I know cried today and it breaks my heart to see it. We can do better as a nation,” she wrote on Twitter.
    The Lagos Fire Service and Lagos State Emergency Management Agency were yet to arrive the scene as at the time of filing this report.

    The fire incident at Amu plank market comes five days after fire ravaged Abule Egba, a suburb in Lagos.

  • ‘RCCG house escapes being burnt in Lagos pipeline explosion’

    ‘RCCG house escapes being burnt in Lagos pipeline explosion’

    The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has become the centre of discussion online over a viral video showing how an ‘RCCG building’ miraculously escaped being burnt amid the raging fire outbreak which occurred on Sunday night along Ekoro Road by Baruwa axis, Abule Egba, Lagos.

    According to the Narrator in the video, the house was always used as a house fellowship centre for RCCG members in the street and that is why God saved it.

    The video has since garnered mixed reactions with many praising God and acknowledging his supremacy while a few others, doubting the report.

    The fire outbreak which claimed lives and properties was reportedly caused by activities of pipeline vandals at Abule Egba, Lagos State.

  • Fighting Fires: Other States Can Learn from Anambra

    Fighting Fires: Other States Can Learn from Anambra

    Both the Federal Government and all the states in Nigeria plus the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja have been called upon to learn from the experience of the Anambra State government in fighting fire outbreaks in a modern and effective way.

    The call was made today in a press statement by the Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C. Don Adinuba, in the wake of a series of fire outbreaks in the country, including the one at the Old Automobile Spare Parts Market in Obosi, Idemili Local Government Area of the state at the weekend which affected 12 lock-up shops.

    “This call has become necessary in consideration of the incessant fires across the country induced by the ongoing harmattan”, Commissioner Adinuba explained.

    “The fire could have been more disastrous but for the timely intervention of key agencies like the Nigeria Police Force and the Anambra State Fire Service.

    “Once the fire service was alerted about 1.30am by the Awada Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mr Tony Adeyi, the firemen responded promptly and robustly.

    “They were joined by not only the police but also agencies like the Anambra State Traffic Management Agency and Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra (OCHA) Brigade to ensure that goods and shops were not looted.

    “The Anambra State government appreciates the cooperation of the crowd which gathered at the scene and notes that the crowd cheered officers of the relevant agencies for their gallant action.

    “It is self-evident that the new conditions of service and operational steps taken by the Anambra State government to effectively and efficiently fight fires in the state are working very well.

    “Following the fuel tanker accident of Wednesday, October 3, 2019, on the Onitsha-Enugu Expressway which resulted in the destruction of some assets in Onitsha and even loss of life, the state government decided to reorganise the fire service.

    “It increased the professional hazard allowance of firemen from a mere N10 a month to N10,000 per month.

    “It appointed a highly respected military officer, Air Vice Marshall Ben Chiobi, the managing director of the fire service.

    “In addition, it provided a number of fire trucks and an additional 40 vehicles last month to the service.

    “Most importantly, it decided, pending approval from the state House of Assembly, to take the fire service away from the supervision of any ministry and make it autonomous, so as to accelerate its efficiency.

    “Hitherto, if the agency wanted to make even regular purchases, it would have to seek permission from the permanent secretary in the supervising ministry who, in turn, would seek the approval of the commissioner and the commissioner would have to contact the Governor or Secretary to the State Government for approval.

    “All this bureaucratic redtapism impedes the efficiency of the organization which, perforce, should have an excellent response time.

    “The government and people of Anambra State are proud that the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano, has demonstrated sound leadership by identifying the loopholes in the system and tackling them accordingly.

    “True leadership requires people to learn from experience and correct all errors and efficiencies, so that the system will not continue with them.

    “We, therefore, urge all governments in Nigeria to learn from the Anambra State government how to effectively tackle fires, all the more so during this harmattan season.

    “We assure all our people that Anambra State will continue to be the Light of the Nation.

  • Fire engulfs Rivers Government scrap yard

    Fire engulfs Rivers Government scrap yard

    Some parts of Eliozu Community in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State were on Saturday enveloped with smoke as government scrap yard caught fire causing so much panic among residents.

    Fire started at 7am at the Rivers State Government Scrap Yard at Eliozu loaded with condemned tyres opposite Eliozu Market, Off East-West and G.U. Ake Road Eliozu, road frightening most of the market women who scampered for safety packing their wares and stands afar.

    The huge flame and smoke temporarily hampered a free flow of traffic along the popular Chief G.U.Eke road, as motorists and commuters resorted to the use of one Lane of the dual carriage way.

    Eyewitnesses said the fire fighters who arrived the scene with two fire trucks from the state government fire service were seen gazing at the flame helplessly and complaining that they could not get access to fight the fire.

    “When the firefighters came, they were just looking at the fire and complaining that they could not get access to quench the inferno.

    “We don’t know what started the fire but all we saw was a heavy flame burning the heap of condemned tyres that are more than about 10,000 pieces in the government scrap yard.”

    When contacted,the Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr Bariere Thomas, said the Ministry was aware of the fire and was doing something to put out the fire.

    He earlier cautioned residents of Port Harcourt to be careful while handling inflammable materials during this hot harmattan season.

  • Over 5000 homeless as fire razes fishing community in Akwa Ibom

    No fewer than 2,000 houses have been burnt and over 5,000 people rendered homeless following a fire incident that occurred in the early hours on Friday at Iwoukpom community in Ibeno council area of Akwa Ibom State.

    While the cause of the fire could not be ascertained as at press time however finding s revealed that properties worth millions of naira have been destroyed in the fishing community mostly occupied by Yoruba fishermen

    Most of the buildings were constructed with wood thereby increasing the fatality rate of incident even as fishing equipment and fishes were burnt.

    It was also not immediately known if lives were lost. Loud wailings from victims were heard as the recounted their loses.

    Mrs Idongesit Udoh, a mother of three children who was crying said she could not pick a pin from her house before the inferno rendered her homeless.

    “The entire building was razed completely and I could not pick a pin in the house,” she lamented.

    She called on the state government, kind hearted individuals, and others to come to their rescue, lamenting that she does not have room on her head anymore.

    The youth leader of Ibeno council area, Mr. Kingsley Asuquo expressed his disappointed that the incident happened.

    He said the fire incident destroyed completely everything in the environment including fishing equipment in the area.

    “It is pathetic and the people have lost everything in their life, so there is no word that is qualified to explain the circumstances,” he cried out.

    He said that over thousands of people had been rendered homeless and called on state government to provide internal displaced camp for the affected victims.

    The leader of the Yoruba community, Mr. Foli Ogungbemi, Special Adviser to the Chairman of Ibeno on non- indigenes said the entire place was settled mostly by Yoruba people.

    He said that when the incident happened the people were running for their safety and none could really know the root cause of the inferno.

     

  • 111 people burnt to death in Kano

    No fewer than 111 people have been burnt to death in series of fire incidents in Kano State, State Fire Service disclosed on Friday.

    The losses were recorded in 813 fire incidents in Kano between January and December, 2019, Saidu Muhammed, Fire Service Public Relations Officer said.

    Also, the fire service said its men saved 1,055 lives and property worth N1.9 billion from 813 fire incidents during the period.

    Muhammed, however, said that 111 lives were lost during the period.

    “597 people were involved in road accidents, seven in collapsed buildings, 54 fell inside well, 58 fell inside open water and the remaining 97 were involved in flood, domestic fire incidents among others,” he said.

    Muhammed said that property valued at N679 million were destroyed during the period, while the service received 744 rescue calls and 180 false alarms from residents.

    He told the News Agency of Nigeria that road accidents, inferior electrical materials; use of boiling rings, as well as poor handling of electrical appliances, cooking gas and fireplace were major causes of the inferno.

  • Fire engulfs part of David Mark’s residence

    A fire incident was reported at the Otukpo residence of former Senate President, Senator David Mark in Benue state.

    The fire incident which was confirmed by Dr. Adakole Elijah on behalf of Senator Mark burnt some properties including 15 motorcycles and two vehicles.

    He added that the arrival of the Fire Service personnel prevented the inferno from spreading to the entire building, adding that the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.

    One of the domestic workers, who preferred anonymity, said, “we made every effort to quench the fire but the more we tried the more it continued to spread.

    “It was when we noticed that we could not stop it from engulfing the guest house that we called in the Fire Service.”

    At the time of this report, however, none of the family members has yet commented on the matter even as it was learnt that Mark himself was away from home.

  • Fire razes popular ‘Kara’ Market on New Year’s eve

    A section of the popular cattle market also known as ‘Kara’ close to the Berger Garage along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway was gutted by fire on Tuesday morning.

    The correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that visited the market gathered from some eyewitnesses that no less than 40 shops, five storage facilities, 20 residential rooms and cash, all worth millions were lost to the inferno.

    They added that the goods in the shops and storage facilities include provisions , animal feeds and food items.

    Some of the operators at the market speaking to NAN expressed thanks to God that no life was lost from what they described as a ‘ mysterious’ fire.

    The sellers in separate interviews told NAN that they were were grateful that no one died in the incident which burnt many shops and three vehicles.

    Mr Adewale Akeweje, the Secretary of the sellers in the market, said that some of his members had removed their wares from their shops before the raging fire became uncontrollable.

    Ajeweje, however,said that nobody could ascertain how the fire started.

    “The incident did not affect any life; by the time the fire had spread, some people had already removed their properties.

    “It affected some shops and some living apartments there.

    “Personally, I don’t have an idea of what caused it, we heard that some people just saw the fire around the area where rams are sold, ” he said.

    Akeweje commended the timely response of the Lagos State Fire Service, from the State Secretariat in Alausa which helped to put out the fire.

    “We were called around 11a.m., that part of our area at Kara was burning. Before we got there, they had stopped the fire from spreading to other areas.

    “The fire fighters from Alausa really tried ,” he said.

    Also, Tanko Abdullahi, a ram seller, whose stall was not far from the incident, said that he was grateful that no life was lost, saying that “as far as there is life, there is hope”.

    Similarly, Muhammad Shehu, an eyewitness told NAN that the fire was a mystery as no one could ascertain how it started, saying it was a bad way of ending the year.

    Shehu while relaying his story about one of the burnt vehicles said that the owner had come to buy a ram for the new year festivtyf , only for his car to get burnt beyond recognition.

    “The other two vehicles parked there did not get damaged beyond recognition, this one just couldn’t be helped.

    “The owner came to buy ram, I saw him when he parked the car before I left the area for a while.

    “The next thing I heard was that the area was on fire, how that happened is still a mystery. We thank God that no life was lost, ” he said.

    Also, the Assistant General -Secretary of the market, Mr Sani Mohammed, said the cause of the inferno still remained a mystery to the market officials and the populace.

    Mohammed told NAN that the inferno remained a mystery because all investigations by the market officials and the Lagos State Fire Service revealed no particular cause as at press time.

    Mohammed said, ” All I heard where I sat was fire! fire!! fire!!!

    ” Within a few seconds, there was chaos while everyone was running for his or her life.

    ” However, efforts are still ongoing to ascertain the cause of the inferno ” Mohammed said.

    Mohammed said the market had never recorded a history of fire outbreak for years.

    An official of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) who spoke to NAN confirmed that the cause of the inferno was still unknown.

    “However, immediately we heard the alarm, we proceeded for rescue operations.

    ” The fire had almost been put off before the Lagos State Fire Service personnel arrived.

    “We were supported by police officials on ground too,” the NSCDC official said.

     

  • BREAKING: Military armoured tank razed by fire in Damaturu

    A military armoured tank on Monday caught fire in Damaturu, Yobe state causing several explosions from the vehicle.

    The explosions threw the entire town into pandemonium as resident scampered for safety.

    The Spokesman of Operation Lafiya Dole Sector II, Captain Njoka Irabor confirmed the incident.

    Captain Irabor described the incident as unfortunate but said the situation is far from any attack on the metropolis. He called on people to go about their normal business.

    Meanwhile, fire fighters have since been deployed to the scene to put off the fire.

    The incident according to an eyewitness happened opposite the Federal Polytechnic Damaturu as the soldiers were on their way back to base from the August 27 Stadium Damaturu.