Food Lovers Store at ECL Mall in Kitwe gutted by fire

A section of Edgar Chagwa  Lungu (ECL) Mall caught fire in the early hours of Saturday, according to police.

The incident occurred between 01:30hrs and 02:00hrs behind food lovers shop Kitwe, Copperbelt Police Chief, Peacewell Mweemba, said in a statement on Saturday.

“At around 00:00 hours workers who were working in the night after power cut and when the genset started they noticed smoke that was coming from genset which they ignored but later saw a big fire coming from the genset and immediately they notified the fire brigade who by the time they were coming fire had grown and damaged the said properties,” stated Mweemba.

The fire was later put off before it affected the Food Lovers shop.

The police visited the scene of fire incident and confirmed the damage and opened inquiry file.

Among the items reported to be burnt included Light Truck Toyota canter Registration number- BAD 7133, two folk lifters, one electrical scale and two Security cameras whose value not yet ascertained.

Read more:Chisokone, Kitwe’s largest market, engulfed by fire; goods worth millions of Kwacha destroyed

Meanwhile, the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) Head of Corporate Affairs, Cephas Sinyangwe, has confirmed that no casualties were recorded during the fire incidence.

“We are glad to report that there are no casualties in the incidence. We sincerely regret the reported loss of and damage to property,” Sinyangwe said in a statement of Saturday.

He stated that investigations had been instituted to establish the cause of the fire and the extent and cost of the damage.

Sinyangwe said that a joint team of NAPSA engineers, Public Health & Safety officials had been dispatched to the site in Kitwe to work with investigators and the affected tenant to quickly get the tenant back to normal business.

“We would like to express our gratitude to the fire brigades from Mopani and CEC and all those who assisted in containing the fire for responding swiftly to the incidence and stopping the fire from causing extensive damage,” he said.

Sinyangwe promised to keep the public informed of any new developments.

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