Elig-Effa Fire Incident: Wild flames guts shops

Two shops at the Eli-Effa neighbourhood were ravaged by flames causing serious material damages.

A snack bar and a carpentry workshop were reduced to ashes following the fire incident which occurred on Sunday night December 12, 2020.

The owner of the carpentry workshop Gabriel Ndongo in a melancholic mood said he received the devastating call announcing the news to him at 10:30 PM.

He rushed to the scene but the flames were too wild to contain.

Neighbours, passerbys and the shop owner helplessly watched the flames raze the building.

Mr. Ndongo said the flames could have been contained if the Firefighting unit had responded quicker to their call for help.

He told reporters that when the incident was reported to the Messa firefighting unit they were informed that there were no firefighting vehicles at their unit.

The Mimboman station was contacted before some firefighting engines were sent to the scene.

Gabriel Ndongo says the firefighters succeeded in putting out the flames but arrived a little too late to save the situation.

The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.

Devastated Gabriel Ndongo says there are so many versions as to how it all happened but he has already rolled out the idea that it could be as a result of a short-circuit.

“I don’t know what could have caused the fire.Those who witnessed it give different versions of what they saw. Some say the flames started from the front while others insist it started behind.”

“I also do not think it was as a result of a short circuit because I supply my neighbour with electricity, but he was not affected by the fire. His house had lights while the flames were on until they consumed the metre before power went out.” He added.

Although no lives were lost, the two shops have registered extensive material damage which the owners say will take a long time to recover from.

Bruno Ndonwie Funwie