The Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, Dr. (Mrs.) Inyingi Brown, has confirmed that no lives were lost in the fire incident that occurred on Monday at the State Secretariat Complex in Port Harcourt.
Dr. Brown, who briefed newsmen at the scene, said the fire broke out at the right wing of the ground floor of the Podium Block but was quickly contained through a combined effort of the Rivers State Fire Service and other emergency responders.
According to her, the State Fire Service responded immediately after being alerted, alongside other agencies including Renaissance, the Federal Fire Service, and the military.
“It was a combined effort, and as we speak, the fire has been contained,” she said.
The Head of Service expressed gratitude to God and commended Governor Siminalayi Fubara for revamping the fire service, noting that the investment helped avert a major disaster.
She also disclosed that medical personnel from the State Medical Services were on standby during the incident, even though no casualty was recorded.
Dr. Brown explained that preliminary investigations point to an electrical fault as the possible cause of the fire and urged civil servants to always switch off and unplug electrical appliances at the close of work.
“These buildings are heritage structures,” she said. “We must all take responsibility for safety to prevent future occurrences.”
