An early morning fire on Wednesday gutted some shops near the General Post Office at Ibokwu Street, by Old Market Road, Onitsha, the commercial city of Anambra.

The inferno destroyed goods and property, including equipment worth millions of naira.

Chidimma Ike, a witness and a house owner in one of the affected houses, said the fire emanated from one of the shops.

She said that residents saw the thick flames as it spread to other shops before they mobilised alongside passersby to put off the fire and rescue goods in the shops.

Ms Ike said that in spite of several calls to the state fire service, no firefighter came to the scene, adding that residents and passersby battled to quench it and prevented it from escalating to other neighbouring structures.

According to her, “The fire started from one of the shops early this morning, as we suddenly observed thick smoke and before we knew what was going on, it  started raging.

“Most of the traders and shop owners did not come for business today as they were at home for Christmas.

“As the fire raged, several calls were made to the fire service but it was residents and passersby who mobilised to rescue goods  and battle  the fire for several hours,” she said.

One of the affected shop owners, Chinedu Nnamdi, who is  also resident in the area,  said he saw smoke from far away and thought somebody was burning some waste because the shops were closed for the  Christmas celebration.

Mr Nnamdi said he was not aware that the smoke  was from the fire that engulfed their shops until he received a call from  his neighbours on the incident.

The Anambra State fire chief, Chukwudi Chiketa, did not respond to calls as of the time of filing this report.