By Editor Drealomalicha Emmanuella
A section of Nigerian Breweries Plc in Aba, Abia State, was gutted by fire on Friday, leaving significant damage in its wake and sparking panic among nearby residents.
The blaze, which reportedly lasted for more than four hours, required a coordinated response from both federal and state fire services, alongside emergency teams from private companies, before it was eventually brought under control.
Preliminary findings indicate that the fire started in a warehouse area used for storing empty bottles and plastic crates recently offloaded from delivery trucks.
Residents living close to the facility said they initially mistook the smoke for routine waste burning by workers. However, the situation quickly escalated as thick, dark smoke billowed into the sky and flames spread rapidly across the area.
“We thought it was just the usual burning of waste materials,” one resident recounted. “But when the smoke became heavier and the fire intensified, we realised it was something serious. We had to start moving our belongings out immediately.”
With some homes sharing a boundary fence with the company, many residents hurriedly evacuated their properties, fearing the inferno could spread and cause further destruction.
Early attempts by workers and locals to contain the fire proved unsuccessful, as the intense heat and highly flammable plastic materials accelerated the spread of the flames.
No official statement had been issued by Nigerian Breweries Plc as of the time of filing this report. However, the Abia State Fire Service, through its officer, Nnanna Arua, said initial investigations suggest the fire may have been triggered by waste burning in the area, which then ignited nearby stacks of plastic crates and empty bottles.
Authorities say further investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident.
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