A fire outbreak has gutted parts of the residence of the Publisher of Niger Delta Herald Newspapers, Dr. Francis Dufugha, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The Bayelsa publisher’s residence fire occurred on Wednesday night, with eyewitnesses reporting that smoke was first noticed coming from the kitchen area of the apartment, prompting neighbours to raise the alarm.
Key Highlights
Fire guts the residence of Niger Delta Herald Newspapers Publisher Francis Dufugha in Yenagoa.
No casualty was recorded because no occupant was inside the residence when the fire started.
Neighbours reportedly mobilised quickly to put out the fire and prevent it from spreading.
An electrical fault is being considered as a possible cause, but this has not been established.
Dufugha thanked neighbours for their prompt response and intervention.
Fire breaks out at Bayelsa publisher’s residence
The incident occurred on Wednesday night while Dufugha was in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on an academic assignment.
According to eyewitnesses, smoke was first noticed coming from the kitchen area of the residence. Neighbours subsequently raised the alarm and moved to respond to the situation.
No casualty was recorded as there was no occupant in the house at the time of the fire.
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Neighbours help contain fire
Following the alarm, neighbours reportedly forced their way into the apartment and mobilised to put out the fire before it could spread to other parts of the building or adjoining properties.
Dufugha said he was contacted by phone and informed that his residence had caught fire.
He expressed gratitude that no life was lost, describing the incident as unfortunate and distressing.
“I thank God that no life was lost. Property can be replaced, but human life cannot. I am deeply saddened by the incident, but I am also grateful to the neighbours who responded quickly and helped to put out the fire,” he said.
Electrical fault suspected in Yenagoa fire
According to Dufugha, the circumstances surrounding the outbreak suggested that an electrical fault may have been responsible.
He noted that public electricity supply was reportedly restored around the period the fire started.
However, the publisher stressed that the exact cause of the Bayelsa publisher’s residence fire would need to be properly established.
Dufugha said the possibility of an electrical fault following the restoration of public power could not be ruled out, but he did not present it as a confirmed cause.
Dufugha commends neighbours
The publisher commended the neighbours for their prompt response, saying their intervention helped to contain the fire and prevent further damage.
The incident has also renewed concerns about electrical safety, particularly the need for residents to take precautions when public electricity supply is restored after an outage.
Authorities and relevant emergency agencies are expected to establish the actual cause of the fire and assess the extent of damage to the property.
