By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

A firefighter with the Anambra State Fire Service was on Tuesday rushed to the hospital following the severe injuries he incurred while battling a fire outbreak that occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Onitsha, Anambra State.

According to a statement by the Head of Media and Publicity Unit of the State Fire Service, Mr. Harrison Nwaegwu, the fire incident took place in the early hours of the morning at a residential building located at Okosi by Ugwunaobamkpa Junction in Onitsha.

The statement read in part: "The State Fire Service was alerted about the incident at exactly 5:55 a.m., and without hesitation, a team of firemen with firefighting equipment was deployed to the scene.

"The operatives successfully battled and contained the raging inferno, preventing it from spreading further and causing more damage.

"However, one of the firefighters sustained severe injuries in the process and was quickly rushed to a nearby hospital for urgent medical attention."

Though, no further update was given on the officer’s condition at the time of filing this report; the statement, however, hinted that he has a high degree of injury.

The statement further noted that the actual cause of the fire remains unknown until investigation is over.

According to Nwaegwu, the Fire Service team returned to their station at approximately 9:13 a.m., after extinguishing the inferno.

The Anambra State Fire Service further extended its gratitude to members of the public who assisted in ensuring the success of the firefighting operation, and the Mayor of Onitsha North for sending a delegation to visit and sympathize with the injured fireman at the hospital.

It also reiterated its call on the general public to always be conscious and cautious of fire-related hazards, warning that while fire can be deadly, it is also preventable when proper safety measures are observed.

It added: "We continue to advise the public to be conscious of fire, it kills but can be prevented."