The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department (FEMD) has called for improved fire safety measures in markets and commercial centres across the FCT following an early morning fire that destroyed several shops at a building materials market in Jabi, Abuja.
The fire, which started at about 3:00am at Eda Plaza, opposite Chida Hotel, affected several shops and stores stocked with building materials, destroying goods reportedly worth millions of naira.
The Federal Fire Service, FCT Fire Service and Julius Berger Fire Service responded to the incident and contained the inferno at about 10:14am.
No life was lost in the incident, while the cause of the fire had yet to be officially established.
FEMD, in response to the incident, emphasised the need for markets and malls to be equipped with adequate fire extinguishers and other firefighting equipment to enable prompt intervention and reduce losses during fire outbreaks.
The Department also urged market operators to ensure proper electrical installations and conduct regular inspections of electrical systems to reduce the risk of fires caused by electrical faults.
FEMD appealed to residents to evacuate buildings immediately whenever there is a fire outbreak and cautioned them against interfering with the activities of firefighters at emergency scenes.
The Department further urged residents to call the 112 emergency toll-free number whenever an emergency occurs.
