By Jude Michael
A student has reportedly died in a fire incident that razed some buildings at Bishop Crowther Memorial Seminary, Awka, and which destroyed several property.
The cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained as at press time, though it was gathered that the incident occurred around 11.30 pm.
It was also gathered that the fire damaged the school’s hostel, including mattresses and other students’ belongings.
The victim, a student who died in the incident, was said to have been taken to a mortuary.
Confirming the incident via a statement from the Media Unit of Anambra State Fire Service, the State Fire Service Chief, Chukwudi Chiketa, said firefighters and a fire truck were deployed immediately to the scene of the incident and the fire was contained.
According to the statement, the fire chief had visited the school on Sunday for inspection, where the principal narrated how the fire affected a part of the school’s hostel.
The statement was titled, ‘’Update on the incident that occurred in Bishop Crowther Seminary, Awka’’.
It read in part, “The Anambra State Fire Service Chief arrived at Bishop Crowther Memorial Seminary School, Awka at 10:55 am on Sunday, for a firsthand inspection and assessment of the level of damage caused by the fire outbreak that occurred on Saturday night in the school.
“Recall that Anambra State Fire Service received a distress call at 11:30 pm, on Saturday, May 18, 2024, which reported a fire outbreak in one of the school’s hostels. Our firefighters and one of the fire trucks were deployed immediately to the scene of the incident, and the fire was contained.
“The cause of this fire is still unknown, but it’s confirmed that one of the students died at the scene and has been taken to a mortuary.
“The school Principal, Ven. Dr Emendu, who received the Fire Chief, narrated how the fire affected a part of the school’s hostel, damaged everything, including mattresses and other students’ belongings therein, and left one dead. According to the principal, there was no other casualty, and no injury was recorded.”
Emendu commended the state fire service, stating that they arrived promptly and prevented the fire from further escalating to other parts of the building.
‘’The Fire Chief sympathized with the School Management and the entire students of Bishop Crowther Memorial Seminary School, urging them to take heart as God would console them in his own way.
‘’He also commiserated with the family of the deceased, who at the time of the visit, were still on their way to the school, stating that it was always painful and heartbreaking to lose a child, especially in such a situation of fire outbreak. He prayed to God to give them the fortitude to bear the loss,” the statement read.
Advising the public, the Fire Chief reiterated that fire killed, but that it could be controlled.
He urged the people to always be safety conscious and also be careful in all that they did.
