Fire has gutted some shops at Umuoji Street, near Mile 1 Market in Port Harcourt on Monday.

   The inferno destroyed no fewer than 10 shops stocked with paints, building materials and electrical parts.

Although no life was lost, one person fainted and was rushed to a nearby health centre.

When our correspondent visited scene, smoke was still billowing from the shops as at 7.20 a.m. after fire fighters had put out the fire.

Mr Chinedu Nwagha, a resident of No. 1, Umuoji Street, told our correspondent that the inferno started at about 4.40 a.m. at number No. 1B, Umuoji Street, Diobu.

“At about 4.40 a.m., traders who came to buy pineapples started shouting fire, fire, fire. We came out and saw the fire.

“We immediately telephoned the State Fire Service and they arrived within 20 minutes, but it was rather surprising to us that the team later left without doing anything.

“As the fire kept burning, we called emergency number 112 and at about 5.30 a.m., Agip Oil Company Fire Service came and put out the fire,” he said.

Mr David Mirilla, the Leader of the Agip fire fighters, told our correspondent that they received information from their control room at that fire had gutted part of Mile 1 market.

“But when we arrived at the place, we observed the fire was burning the shops close to the market and I deployed my team to put it out.

“Six shops stocked with paints, building materials, electrical parts and part of a two storey building close to the shops were affected,’’ he said.

Mirilla commended the residents for their cooperation, adding, “because of the assistance from people around, we were able to contain the fire”.

Mr Roland Omokwe, the Landlord of the affected building, said it contained 10 shops and that the development would have adverse effect on his economic fortunes.

Mary Chinda