Some shop owners in Warri, Delta State, were thrown into debt and poverty on Sunday as a fire engulfed eight shops along Ogunu Road, opposite the famous Federal Government College.
Though no casualty was recorded from the incident, the building housing the shops was almost completely razed and luxury goods belonging to business owners were destroyed.
One of the shops affected was a multimillionaire furniture showroom housing local and foreign furniture.
It was gathered that the inferno started when one of the shop owners was alleged to be fixing burglary proof.
The welding work was said to have sparked fire from a gallon of fuel alleged to have been stored in the area.
The fire incident which commenced around 9:00 am immediately spread to other shops and completely razed eight of them before help could come.
It was learned that the welder and one other person was said to have sustained injury during the fire outbreak.
Meanwhile, the arrival of firefighters from the Nigeria Ports Authority and Delta State Fire Services saved the building from being completely razed.
Some of the shop owners whose property were destroyed were seen crying profusely over the incident.
