Chief fire and rescue officer in Enugu, Okwudili Ohaa, says the state’s fire service requires “big equipment” to put out the gas-induced fire outbreak in the Emene area of the state.

Mr Ohaa said that the fire service had, during the weekend, used a slab lid to control the natural gas-induced fire outbreak near Caritas University, Amorji-Nike, Emene near Enugu.

The fire, suspected to have been caused by under-earth natural gas, was encountered during the drilling of a water borehole at Caritas University, Amorji-Nike, Enugu, on May 22.

However, he said the slab lid control could not cover the entire drilled hole correctly, and after some hours, the fire continued to rage at its former capacity due to the force of the gas.

“We have not given up hope. We are waiting for big equipment to lay a gigantic slab lid to quench the fire and some other heavy platforms to be on top of the slab lid to reinforce it against the strength of the force of the gas,” he explained to journalists.

The said officials and fire engine trucks had been on ground since the incident was reported around 9:00 p.m. on May 22.

“After dealing with the fire and stopping the inferno, other specialised oil and gas agencies as well as the NNPC will see to the stoppage of the gas leak permanently,” he said.

Mr Ohaa said that the state fire service had taken necessary measures to ensure that the fire did not escalate beyond its present point.

“We have cordoned off the area as well as ensure that nobody within the neighbourhood stores inflammable materials.

“We have also sensitised the students and members of the community that there was no cause for alarm and all necessary safety precautions had been taken,” he said. 

(NAN)