A residential building on Nike Lake Avenue, Trans-Ekulu, Enugu State, was reportedly gutted by fire last night following an incident in which a nanny allegedly fell asleep while a candle was burning inside the house.
According to eyewitness accounts, the nanny was at home with a young boy during a power outage when she reportedly lit a candle to provide light because the child could not sleep in darkness.
However, the situation allegedly took a dangerous turn when the nanny fell asleep, allowing the fire to spread through the building.
Neighbours who noticed the fire reportedly rushed to the scene, where they found the nanny distressed and crying as the flames engulfed parts of the residence.
The fire service was alerted and was said to have arrived at the scene within minutes. However, eyewitnesses alleged that the initial firefighting efforts were unsuccessful, prompting a call for additional support.
By the time reinforcements arrived and the necessary firefighting equipment was deployed, the fire had reportedly caused extensive damage to the upper floor of the building.
Thankfully, no injuries or casualties were reported as a result of the incident.
The incident has renewed concerns about fire safety in residential buildings and the preparedness of emergency response services to handle domestic fire outbreaks.
Residents are advised to exercise caution when using candles and other open flames, particularly during power outages. Fire safety experts generally recommend extinguishing candles before sleeping, keeping them away from combustible materials and using safer alternatives, such as rechargeable lamps and battery-powered lights.
