Vincent Ujumadu
17 December 2007
Umuahia — THE timber market in Umuahia was weekend gutted by fire that destroyed property estimated at about N15 million. It was the second fire incident in the market this year as Vanguard recalls that a section of the market was gutted by fire in March at the heat of the electioneering campaign.
No fewer than ten stalls housing different goods which included foams, cement, different sizes of wood and upholstery were completely razed by the fire before it was brought under control through the combined efforts of the State Fire Service and nearby residents.
Vanguard gathered that the fire started at about 7.00 pm when all the traders had closed shop and left for their different homes. Some of the traders who spoke to Vanguard said they did not know the cause of the fire, although they suspected it might have started from one of the stalls where the owner had probably left a burning candle on.
Chairman of the Building Materials Dealers Association in the market, Mr. James Ngwu said the fire incident has thrown the traders off balance, regretting that they are going to face a bleak Christmas.
A victim of the fire incident who is also a carpenter, Mr. Jude Igwedimma said he lost materials worth more than two million naira to the infernor and solicited government's assistance to enable him start his business all over again.
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