Illegal fuel dealing causes fire in Mpulungu

HUNDREDS of people have escaped unhurt at Ngwenya market in Mpulungu District when a makeshift stand containing drums of petrol caught fire.
A check at the market a few minutes after the fire engulfed the makeshift stand found marketers and traders making frantic efforts to salvage their merchandise and wares from their stalls.
Other people were seen scampering in different directions for safety while others simply run away from the market, fearing for their lives.
The fire was ignited by a cigarette in one of the stores where petrol was being poured.
In an interview later, Ngwenya market committee chairman Maybin Mwansa expressed shock and regret at the incident, saying that it was the third fire incident at the market involving fuel in a short period of time.
Mwansa who was flanked by his vice secretary chewe chilufya accused some government officials of favouring the fuel dealers situated within the market.
He said several appeals have been made to remove the illegal fuel dealers on the black market but the appeals have fallen on ‘deaf ears’.
Mwansa warned that a life would one day be lost if the if fuels are allowed to continue being sold in the market.
He said even the fire fighters from council were not at hand to help put out the fire despite emergency calls being made to them a few seconds after the disaster happened.
Mr. Mwansa complained that this attitude had angered many marketers as they now deem the fire licenses they have been made to pay for, were useless.
He said marketers and traders are now wondering why council charges them fire fees if no help comes from there.
Mr. Mwansa appealed to police to intensify their inspection of stalls and makeshift stands to ensure no fuels are sold in the market because they could one day lead to a serious fire disaster.
[ZANIS]