A fire outbreak has occurred at a building located at a one-storey building popularly known as the MTN Office, Awka, in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
PUNCH Online gathered that the fire, which started in the early hours on Sunday, burned for several minutes before the intervention of the men of the state fire service, who battled to put it out.
Although no casualty was recorded and the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, the fire was said to have razed the roof of the building as well as a few offices and properties therein and was prevented from further escalating by the firefighters.
An eyewitness near the scene and a resident in the area said, “Thick smoke suddenly started from one of the rooms on the first floor of the building and within some minutes turned into fire, it escalated to the roof of the building and other offices.
It burned for some time before the intervention of the firefighters. The firefighters arrived at the scene at about 3 am and battled the fire for some hours before they eventually put it out.
“The incident created panic around the vicinity, especially for residents nearby, because of the closeness of the houses, as everybody was on red alert and also assisting the firefighters to ensure the situation was under control.”
The Anambra State Fire Service Media and Publicity Unit, led by the state fire chief, Chukwudi Chiketa, who confirmed the development in a statement when contacted on Sunday, said a crew of firefighters, with firefighting equipment, were immediately deployed to the scene after the fire service received a distress call.
Sunday, September 28, 2025, at about 3:18 am, the Anambra State Fire Service received a distress call reporting a fire outbreak at a one-storey building popularly known as the ‘MTN Office’, located at No. 95 Ziks Avenue, by Ogbugbankwa Junction, Awka, in Awka South LGA.
“A crew of firefighters, with firefighting equipment, was immediately deployed to the scene. The fire was swiftly contained, preventing it from spreading further.
“Before it was extinguished, the outbreak affected the roof of the building as well as a few offices and properties therein. The cause of the incident is yet to be ascertained, as investigations are currently ongoing.
“The firefighting crew successfully completed the operation and withdrew from the scene at about 4:50 am the same day.”
He urged the general public to always switch off all electrical appliances when not in use, avoid overloading electrical sockets and extension boxes, and ensure routine checks on electrical installations in homes, offices, and shops.
“Keep fire extinguishers handy and accessible at all times; report any fire outbreak promptly by calling the fire service emergency lines. Prevention remains the most effective way to avert fire disasters,” Chiketa concluded.
