Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A fire outbreak has destroyed a mattress shop at Unity Estate in the Eneka area of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, leaving the owner counting heavy losses and a neighbouring drinks shop damaged in the Saturday incident. Eyewitnesses said the fire started in the afternoon and quickly spread through the shop, consuming mattresses and other items before residents and passersby could mount a serious response. Efforts by the crowd to put out the blaze were hampered by the speed of the flames, which had already engulfed most of the shop by the time help arrived.
Residents told journalists today that they heard shouts from the shop and rushed to the scene, only to find thick smoke and fire raging through the structure. Some attempted to use buckets and fire extinguishers, but the inferno had already taken hold, and it soon spread to a nearby drinks shop, causing additional damage. No casualties were reported, but the owner of the mattress shop, who declined to be named, told our correspondent that the loss was "devastating." He said he had invested heavily in the business over several years and that the fire had wiped out his entire stock.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known, though some residents speculated it could have been triggered by an electrical fault or a carelessly discarded cigarette. Firefighters from the Rivers State Fire Service arrived at the scene about 30 minutes after the outbreak, but by then the shop had been largely destroyed. The firefighters were able to prevent the flames from spreading to other buildings in the neighbourhood.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about fire safety in residential and commercial areas of Port Harcourt, where outbreaks have become increasingly common. Many shops and homes in the city lack basic firefighting equipment, and residents often rely on improvised measures to contain fires. The Rivers State Government has in the past urged business owners to install fire extinguishers and adopt safety measures, but compliance remains low.
As the owner of the mattress shop begins the painful process of assessing the damage and rebuilding, the community has called on the state government to provide support for small business owners affected by such disasters. The fire also serves as a reminder of the need for greater awareness and preparedness in the face of fire emergencies.
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