Child playing with lighter sparks devastating fire in Awka
By Praise Chinecherem
A child playing with a lighter has reportedly triggered a fire that gutted a two bedroom bungalow along Ken Okoli Street, near Divine Hospital, Awka, Anambra State, destroying the building and its contents.
The fire, which broke out on Friday at about 2:45 p.m., reportedly started after the child ignited a lighter and placed it on a foam material, causing flames to spread rapidly through the building.
The affected bungalow is part of a property that also houses a two storey building. No casualty was recorded in the incident.
Confirming the development, the Chief Fire Officer of the Anambra State Fire Service, Engr. Chukwudi Chiketa, said the agency received a distress call at about 3:30 p.m. and immediately mobilised firefighters to the scene.
He said the crew successfully brought the fire under control through coordinated firefighting and containment operations, preventing further spread.
Chiketa disclosed that the firefighters completed their operations and withdrew from the scene at about 4:50 p.m.
The fire chief urged parents and guardians to keep lighters, matches and other flammable materials away from children, warning that a moment of carelessness could result in devastating consequences.
