FCT: Cause of Karu market fire still unknown – FEMD

The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department (FEMD) has restated the importance of access in fire-fighting operations.

The agency stated this Friday as it said the cause of the fire incident at the old Karu Market was still unknown.

Acting Director General of FEMD, Mrs. Florence Wenegieme, in a statement issued by the Head, Public Affairs of the agency, Nkechi Isa, stated this at the old Karu Market, which was engulfed by fire Thursday evening.

A combined team of the FCT Fire Service, Federal Fire Service, and Julius Berger Fire Service Thursday contained the fire outbreak at the old Karu Market in the FCT.

According to Mrs. Wenegieme, who was at the scene of the incident, the fire started about 6.30 p.m, explaining that the firemen, who were drafted to the scene on time were, however, unable to gain access to the market, which is located behind the new market under construction.

She said, “It was the illegal market or 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 for the firefighting hose; that was what caused the delay in putting out the fire.”

Mrs. Wenegieme further stated that the cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained, explaining that investigations were, however, ongoing that, “no life was lost to the fire incident (but that) goods worth millions of naira were destroyed.”

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

Wenegieme commended the Department of Engineering Services for activating Julius Berger Fire Service.