One student dies as fire guts Anambra Seminary School

A fire broke out at the Bishop Crowther Memorial Seminary School in Awka, Anambra State’s capital, killing one person and causing damage to other houses.

The cause of the fire has yet to be determined, but it was reported that it occurred at 11.30 p.m. on Saturday.

It was also reported that the fire damaged the school’s dormitories, including mattresses and other student items.

The victim, a student who died in the event, was reportedly transferred to a mortuary.

On Sunday, the state Fire Service Chief, Chukwudi Chiketa, confirmed the event in a statement issued by the Anambra State Fire Service’s Media Unit, saying firefighters and a fire truck were dispatched to the location immediately and the fire was contained.

According to the statement, the fire chief visited the school on Sunday for an inspection, and the principal described how the fire affected a portion of the school’s dormitories.

The statement was captioned ‘Update on the incident that transpired in Bishop Crowther Seminary, Awka’.

It read in part, “The Anambra State Fire Service Chief arrived at Bishop Crowther Memorial Seminary School, Awka at 10:55 a.m. on Sunday, for a firsthand inspection and assessment of the level of damages caused by the fire outbreak that occurred on Saturday night in the school.

“Recall that Anambra State Fire Service received a distress call at 11:30 pm, on Saturday, May 18, 2024, which reported a fire outbreak in one of the school’s hostels. Our firefighters and one of the fire trucks were deployed immediately to the scene of the incident, and the fire was contained.

“The cause of this fire is still unknown, but it’s confirmed that one of the students died at the scene and has been taken to a mortuary.

“The school Principal, Ven. Dr Emendu, who received the fire chief, narrated how the fire affected a part of the school’s hostel, damaged everything, including mattresses and other students’ belongings therein, and left one dead. According to the principal, there was no other casualty, and no injury was recorded.”

Emendu praised the state fire department, saying they arrived quickly and kept the fire from spreading to other portions of the structure.

“The Fire Chief sympathised with the school management and the entire students of Bishop Crowther Memorial Seminary School, urging them to take heart as God will console them in his own way.

“He also commiserated with the family of the deceased, who at the time of the visit were still on their way to the school, stating that it’s always painful and heartbreaking to lose a child, not to talk of in such a situation of fire outbreak. He prayed to God to give them the fortitude to bear the loss,” the statement read.

The Fire Chief advised the public that fire kills, but it can be controlled.

He asked everyone to be safe and cautious in all they do.