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A fire outbreak occurred on Wednesday night behind Makurdi International Secondary School in Makurdi, Benue State, opposite the residence of Gwuvwe U Tiv, completely destroying one building and sparking serious concern among local residents.
According to eyewitness accounts and reports from Benue Info-pedia, the blaze originated at a carpentry workshop after the owners burned refuse in a nearby gutter and left the site without ensuring the fire was completely extinguished. By around 8:00 pm, the flames had spread to wooden furniture stored in the vicinity, rapidly intensifying and becoming uncontrollable.
The fire soon engulfed an adjacent building rented by a church, prompting passersby to raise the alarm. Initial efforts to contact the Federal Fire Service were hampered by ongoing road reconstruction that blocked access to their station, causing significant delays.
The Benue State Fire Service eventually arrived on the scene and successfully brought the inferno under control, preventing it from spreading to neighboring structures. Fortunately, no injuries or loss of life were reported.
While the full extent of property damage is still being assessed, residents have expressed alarm over the incident and the potential risks posed by unattended open fires, especially in densely built-up areas. Many called for greater vigilance and improved emergency preparedness in the community.
State fire service officials have since urged residents and business owners to exercise extreme caution when disposing of waste, particularly through open burning, and to always confirm that any fire is fully extinguished before leaving the area. They emphasized that such simple preventive measures could avert similar incidents in the future.
The episode has once again highlighted the need for enhanced fire safety awareness and quicker emergency response mechanisms in urban and semi-urban parts of Makurdi.
