The FCT Emergency Management Department,(FEMD) has again underscored the importance of access in fire fighting operations.

The Ag Director General of FEMD, Mrs Florence Wenegieme stated at the old Karu Market,which was engulfed by fire yesterday evening.

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

According to Mrs Wenegieme who was at the incident scene ,the fire started at about 6.30 pm.
She informed that the fire men 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 fire men ,but we could not gain access to the market, so we had to break walls to have access for the fire fighting 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 on going .
No Life was lost to the fire incident, goods worth millions of naira were destroyed.
The Nigeria Police, Nigeria Army and the Civil Defense Corps were also on ground to ensure crowd control.
The Ag DG commended the Department of Engineering Services for activating Julius Berger Fire Servic.
Nkechi Isa
Head, Public Affairs
June28, 2024