By Victoria Onehi
The Federal Fire Service has quelled a major fire outbreak at the Kugbo Furniture Market in Abuja. The fire which broke out Sunday morning gutted part of the market but firefighters from the Federal Fire Service, Nyanya Fire Station, with the FCT Fire Service brought the inferno under control after several hours of intense firefighting.
The Federal Fire Service, in a statement signed by its National Public Relations Officer and Head of Corporate Services, DCF Paul Abraham, said the fire, suspected to have been caused by an electrical surge, broke out in the early hours at the market, one of the largest furniture hubs in the Federal Capital Territory.
He stated that a distress call was received at its control room at about 8:37am, triggering the immediate deployment of firefighters from the Special Unit of the National Headquarters.
Two high-power ground monitor appliances were mobilised from the headquarters, while an additional firefighting truck responded from the Nyanya Fire Station, with the FCT Fire Service also joining the operation.
Firefighters from both services battled the blaze for more than three hours before successfully containing it, preventing further escalation.
The statement disclosed that the coordinated response led to the saving of properties estimated at about ₦1.8 billion.
The Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, Olumode Samuel Adeyemi, commended the gallantry and professionalism of the responding firefighters, stressing that early reporting of emergencies was critical to reducing losses.
He urged members of the public to promptly alert the Service whenever incidents occur, noting that timely calls enable swift intervention and effective deployment of resources.
Adeyemi also expressed appreciation to the FCT Fire Service for its continued collaboration in joint emergency response efforts, describing such partnerships as essential to safeguarding lives and property in the nation’s capital.
Reaffirming its commitment to public safety, the Federal Fire Service urged the public to pay closer attention to electrical installations and safety standards to reduce the risk of similar incidents.
The Service also reminded the public of its emergency response lines, including 08032003557 and the national emergency number 112.
