An evening fire on Saturday caused damage to parts of the Practicing Primary School located inside St. Stephen Anglican Church, Umubelu, Awka, Anambra State. The fire, attributed to bush burning, destroyed portions of the school’s roofing materials but was contained before spreading further.

Eyewitnesses reported that the blaze burned for several minutes before firefighters from the Anambra State Fire Service arrived and extinguished it. Confirming the incident, Chukwudi Chiketa, head of the Media and Publicity Unit of the state fire service, stated that the distress call was received at 4:40 pm, and firemen quickly responded, containing the fire within an hour. Thankfully, no casualties were recorded. Chiketa cautioned residents to clear dry grasses and avoid fire-related activities during the dry season to prevent similar incidents.

In another fire outbreak earlier the same day, two lock-up shops on the ground floor of Lord’s Plaza in Onitsha Main Market were damaged. The fire service chief disclosed that a distressed individual reported the fire at 6:10 am, prompting an immediate response from firefighters. While the fire was contained, the cause remains unknown, and no casualties were reported. The fire service emphasized the importance of vigilance, warning, “Fire kills, but we can prevent it.”

A third incident occurred on Friday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University campus in Awka, where a fire broke out behind the Security Office. Firefighters were dispatched immediately, and the blaze was extinguished without causing damage or injuries. The Anambra State Fire Service continues to urge residents to prioritize fire safety, particularly during the dry season, to avoid further tragedies.