An auto spare parts market, popularly known as the Coal Camp Spare Parts Market, in Enugu State has been gutted by fire.
The Coal Camp Motor Spare Parts Market is an auto parts market with stores and workshops dealing on Caterpillar spare parts, Mitsubishi parts, Toyota parts, engines, lubricants, and other related automotive products and services.
The incident, which happened at about 01:00 a.m on Wednesday morning, had over 40 shops and other ancillaries burnt to ashes.
According to the President of the Spare Parts Market, Mike Nomeh, the fire was said to have started from a restaurant located somewhere within the market.
“The security personnel in the market noticed a shop that was burning in the night but they couldn’t open the shop due to heavy protector used to lock the shop.
So, in the process, the fire got to a nearby restaurant where they use gas in cooking, and that was what exploded and went out of control and spread through other shops
“And by the time the fire fighters arrived, a lot of devastation had been caused by the fire,” Nomeh narrated.
A fire service personnel, identified as Engr. Chigozie Ugwu, was said to have died in the incident while trying to put out the fire.
The Chief Fire Officer in Enugu State, Okwudili Ohaa, said that the late officer, Engr. Chigozie Ugwu, was always dedicated to duty and was ever ready respond to emergencies.
“Chigozie Ugwu is one officer who many times does not bother about his rank. Rather than send his juniors to respond to emergencies, he would prefer to be there himself. It was very unfortunate that he died after putting off the raging fire
“We miss him, and may his soul rest in peace,” Ohaa said.
