A devastating fire broke out in a commercial building in Ibuje Town Council, Apac District, on Thursday, October 31, 2024, causing extensive property damage estimated to be worth millions of shillings.
The fire, which started around 1 p.m., began in an electronics shop and quickly spread to an adjacent bookshop and tailoring workshop.
Eyewitnesses reported that the shop was closed when the incident occurred, with all merchandise inside destroyed. The shop attendants were away on lunch, one making a delivery to a client, while the other was at a nearby restaurant.
Local leaders commended the quick response that managed to contain the fire, with a water truck from a road construction company aiding efforts to extinguish the flames before police arrived on the scene.
Apac District police confirmed the incident and announced an investigation into the fire’s origin and the full extent of the damage. No injuries or fatalities were reported.
This incident has raised concerns within the community, with many questioning the effectiveness of existing safety measures to prevent such disasters. Local authorities have called on business owners and residents to stay vigilant and implement precautions to avert similar incidents in the future.