Tag: fire

A fire killed 17 boys when it tore through the dormitory in which they were sleeping at a boarding school in central Kenya in the early hours of Friday, police said.

“We saw several children in there that had been burnt,” Phillip Gathogo, a local resident, told reporters.

“I was just lucky to save one of them, but I heard that he later died. It was a very troubling and sad tragedy.”

The blaze occurred at the Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri, a primary boarding school for young students about 150 km (93 miles) from the capital Nairobi.

Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura said the boys were in grades 4 to 8, putting their ages at about 9 to 13-years-old. He said in a statement the dormitory housed 156 students.

“We have lost 17 pupils in the fire incident while 14 are injured,” police spokesperson Resila Onyango said. “Our team is at the scene at the moment.”

Vice President Rigathi Gachagua said 70 pupils remained unaccounted for, although he added that some may have been taken home by their parents in the night.

Citizen Television said the fire had burnt the victims beyond recognition.

The cause of the fire was not immediately clear.

Read Also: Cheptegei dies days after boyfriend set her on fire

“Many children managed to jump out and get to safety, but we do not know how many were successful,” Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki said while visiting the school.

“The government assures full accountability for all whose action or inaction contributed to this tremendous loss,” Kindiki later wrote on X.

He appealed for local residents who took in survivors to bring them back to the school so that they might receive medical help and counselling.

President William Ruto said he had told authorities to investigate what he called the “horrific incident” and said those responsible would be held to account.

Authorities have cordoned off the school and crime scene investigators have been sent there, the Interior Ministry said.

Reuter

Fire gutted part of a three-storey building at the Lagos State Government Staff Quarters in Odunsanmi Street, off WEMPCO Road, Ogba area of the state.

Dr Oluwafemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), confirmed this in a statement. 

Oke-Osanyintolu said that LASEMA received distress calls through the 767 and 112 toll-free emergency lines at about 2.39 a.m. 

He said that the agency activated its response team from the command and control centre, Alausa.

“Upon immediate response, it was confirmed that one of the two-bedrooms in Flat 5, of Block 21, a two-winged, three-story building of 16 two-bedroom flats, was engulfed.

Read Also: Fire engulfs seven-storey building on Lagos island

“Investigation conducted by the agency’s response team, revealed that the fire originated from the children’s room as result of power surge.

“The prompt and coordinated efforts of the agency, Nigeria Police Force, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, ensured the fire was contained,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.

He said that there was no injury or life lost, however, the fire completely consumed the children’s bedroom, resulting in loss of properties worth millions of naira.

“We also enlightened the occupants on the proper use of electrical appliances,” he said.

(NAN)

A fire broke out early Friday morning at a seven-storey building on Sanni Adewale Street in the Lagos Island Local Government Area.

 The blaze, which affected several shops within the building, prompted a swift response from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service.

According to a statement by the Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, the distress call was received at 05:17 a.m. 

 Firefighters from the Ebute Elefun, Sari and Lekki 1 stations were immediately dispatched and arrived at the scene by 05:33 a.m.

“Thanks to the quick and coordinated efforts of the firefighters, the fire was brought under control, preventing further spread to neighboring structures. Ventilation efforts are currently underway to ensure the safety of all residents and workers in the vicinity,” she said. 

Read Also: EndBadGovernance protest: How Tinubu’s appeal mainly quelled the fire

Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire was triggered by an electrical surge.

 Despite the significant damage to the affected shops, no casualties have been reported.

“As the situation stabilizes, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service is continuing to monitor the area to prevent any rekindling of the flames. Further investigations will be conducted to determine the full extent of the damage and the precise cause of the fire,” she added. 

There was pandemonium as commuters and passersby along the Murtala Muhammed Expressway, popularly known as Kubwa Express were on Thursday evening thrown into confusion after the Mainland Filling Station near the Public Service Institute of Nigeria (PSIN) went up in flames.

There was greater apprehension among residents of the area as the affected filling station shares a fence with a cooking gas station, Samolad.

At the time of filing this report, firefighters were trying to contain the fire and ensure that it did not spread into the gas station.

Eyewitnesses told The Nation that the fire started when a tanker began discharging fuel at about 4:30 pm.

Commuters and passers-by were thrown into confusion as the heat of the flame could be felt up to a kilometre from the station.

The filling station which is adjacent to an emergency station of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is also close to the Kubwa station of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Fire Service domiciled in the PSIN.

Read Also: Abuja market fire: Senate urges FCTA, AMAC to re-allocate shops to original owners after rehabilitation

Emergency responders and firefighters are currently at the scene battling the fire while security personnel have also cordoned off the area, with traffic restricted to the speed lane of the 10-lane expressway.

At about 5:30 pm a firefighting truck of the Federal Fire Service which had exhausted its water was seen driving out for a refill.

The firefighters were still battling to put off the fire.

Security operatives, especially the police, were also at the scene to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

• Tinubu sympathises with victims

It was a tense and devastating situation at the Karu Market in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) yesterday following a fire outbreak that left heavy losses in its trail.

Goods and properties worth millions of naira were reduced to ashes, leaving traders and shoppers in despair.

The FCT Fire Service with a station in Karu Market responded to the incident but had challenges accessing the scene because of the large crowd of people that flocked to the area.

Some traders who had lost their wares to the inferno were seen wailing uncontrollably over their losses.

One of the affected traders, Mrs. Happiness Aronu, said: “Everything has burnt down. I could not even retrieve a thing.

“This is where we feed from o. Ah, my children’s school fees are there!” Another trader said: “I cannot hold myself. I am in pains. I don’t know if the government can help us.

“My money that has gone here is more than ₦10 million. I am tired and I don’t know where to start from.”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, yesterday expressed sadness over the incident and pleaded government’s full support for the victims of the fire outbreak.

Preliminary investigation suggests that the fire might have been caused by an electrical surge, which quickly spread and engulfed parts of the market.

The Acting Director General of FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD), Florence Wenegieme, yesterday issued advice to underscore the importance of access in firefighting operations,

According to a statement by the Head, Public Affairs, Nkechi Isa, a combined team of the FCT Fire Service, Federal Fire Service and Julius Berger Fire Service were on ground and contained the fire outbreak at the market.

Wenegieme, who was at the scene, noted that the fire started at about 6.30 pm. She said the firemen who were drafted to the scene on time were unable to gain access to the market, which is located behind the new market under construction.

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“It was the illegal market/settlement behind the new market under construction that was engulfed by fire.

“We had enough fire trucks and firemen but we could not gain access to the market, so we had to break walls to have access to the firefighting hose.

“That was what caused the delay in putting out the fire.”

 She further stated that the cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained, adding that investigations were ongoing.

 “No Life was lost to the fire incident, but goods worth millions of naira were destroyed,” she added.

 The Nigeria Police, Nigerian Army and Civil Defence Corps were also on ground to ensure crowd control.

Tinubu sypathises with victims, pledges govt support

President Bola Tinubu yesterday expressed sadness over the fire incident that ravaged parts of Karu Market in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Thursday evening.

The devastating outbreak destroyed property and valuables, leaving traders in distress.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu extended his heartfelt sympathy with those affected, assuring them of his administration’s full support.

“President Bola Tinubu receives the news of the fire incident, which affected sections of Karu Market in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with deep sadness.

“On Thursday evening, fire ripped through a swathe of the market, destroying property and other valuables.

“President Tinubu extends his heartfelt sympathies to all the traders affected by this distressing incident, and assures them of his administration’s full support.

“The President urges caution and adherence to essential safety measures to prevent fire outbreaks and other accidents,” the statement said.

President Bola Tinubu has expressed sadness over the fire incident that ravaged parts of Karu Market in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Thursday evening.

The devastating blaze destroyed property and valuables, leaving traders in distress. 

In a statement issued on Friday, June 28, by his special adviser on media and publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu extended his heartfelt sympathies to those affected, assuring them of his administration’s full support.

“President Bola Tinubu receives the news of the fire incident, which affected sections of Karu Market in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with deep sadness.

Read Also: Tinubu seeks Senate’s confirmation of Tunji Bello, Argungu for FCCPC, PSC top jobs

“On Thursday evening, fire ripped through a swathe of the market, destroying property and other valuables.

“President Tinubu extends his heartfelt sympathies to all the traders affected by this distressing incident, and assures them of his administration’s full support.

“The President urges caution and adherence to essential safety measures to prevent fire outbreaks and other accidents”, the statement said.

The situation was tense and devastating when a fire broke out at Karu Market in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), leaving a trail of destruction and loss.

Goods and properties worth millions of naira were reduced to ashes, causing despair among traders and shoppers.

The FCT Fire Service at Karu Market, responded to the incident but faced challenges accessing the scene due to the large crowd of people flocking to the area.

Traders, who have lost their wares in the inferno, were seen wailing uncontrollably over their losses.

A trader, Happiness Aronu who was sad about the situation said: “Everything has burnt down. I could not recover anything. This is where we feed from o. Ah, my children’s school fees are there,” one of the traders cried. I cannot hold myself; I am in pain – I don’t know if the government can help us. My money that has gone here is over ₦10 million. I am tired and I don’t know where to start.”

Despite the challenges, soldiers were on ground to maintain order and ensure the safety of everyone involved.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire may have been caused by an electrical surge, which quickly spread and engulfed parts of the market.

The full extent of the damage is still being assessed; however, it is clear that the fire has left a significant impact on the community.

Security officers are working to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the outbreak.

Meanwhile, the FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD), has underscored the importance of access in firefighting operations.

The Acting Director General of FEMD, Florence Wenegieme, issued the advice in the wake of the fire at the old Karu Market, which was engulfed by fire Thursday evening.

Read Also: Lack of access prolonged Karu market fire, says FEMD

According to a statement by the head, public affairs, Nkechi Isa, a combined team of the  FCT Fire Service,  Federal Fire Service and Julius Berger Fire Service, were on ground and contained the fire outbreak at the market.

Wenegieme, who was at the incident scene, noted that the fire started at about 6.30 pm.

She informed that the firemen who were activated to the scene on time were however unable to gain access to the market, which is located behind the new market under construction.

“It was the illegal market/ settlement behind the new market under construction that was engulfed by fire. We had enough firetrucks and firemen, but we could not gain access to the market, so we had to break walls to have access to the firefighting hose, that was what caused the delay in putting out the fire”, she said.

She further stated that the cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained, adding that investigations were however ongoing.

“No Life was lost to the fire incident, and goods worth millions of naira were destroyed,” she added.

The Nigeria Police, Nigeria Army and the Civil Defense Corps were also on ground to ensure crowd control.