100 escape death as fire guts Abuja fitness centre

No fewer than 100 gym users escaped death by the whisker when a massive fire gutted the Eco Fitness Hub, a popular fitness centre, located along 4th Avenue, opposite the H-Medix Pharmacy in Gwarimpa, Abuja, on Wednesday morning.

According to Metro learnt from eyewitnesses and neighbours that the fire started in the upstairs lounge area at about 9:50 am before it spread to other parts of the gym.

A Point of Sale terminal operator, Emmanuel Eze, told our correspondent that about 100 gym users present at the gym at the time of the incident were unaware until the fire began to spread.

“The fire started from the lounge. The people inside didn’t even know that the fire had started, till the thing became that much, and then everybody had to run and leave the place. There were more than 80 to 100 people inside.

“The fire started around some minutes to 10 am. I made a video around 9:50 am. It took the fire service more than 30 minutes to get here. But when they came they did a very good job”, he said.

A fashion store owner, who only identified herself simply as Kate, told our correspondent that the fitness centre had a 24-hour service, adding that there was a sound of an explosion when the fire started.

“The fire was from the lounge upstairs like an explosion. People ran outside, and then the fire burnt the whole place. The fire started a few minutes before 10 am and the firefighters arrived at past 11 am, but by that time, the fire had already burnt the place.

“It’s a big fitness gym that has a lot of membership, and it runs 24 hours. On some days, you will see cars parked along the street. When I close my shop around 10 pm, people are still there. But I think the lounge is what makes it run 24 hours”, she said.

One of the security guards who declined to give his name said he was at his duty post when the fire started, adding that there might still be fire in the complex as of the time because there was smoke coming out of the razed facility.

“The incident started around 9 am. I was at my duty post at that time. People were inside when it started. The fire has not even quenched, you can see smoke everywhere. Where there is smoke, there is fire now”, he said.

Meanwhile, the facility manager who refused to disclose his name declined to make a statement when our correspondent approached him for comments.

However, while confirming the incident, the FCT Emergency Management Department, in a statement signed by its Head of Public Affairs, Nkechi Isa, said the fire was brought under control by a combined team of the FCT Fire Services, the Federal Fire Services, the FCT Emergency Management Department, and the National Emergency Management Agency.

The statement further confirmed that the fire started in the lounge, and was put out “at about noon,” noting however that the cause of the fire had yet to be ascertained.

Isa also stated that the Search and Rescue Team of the FEMD confirmed that there were no casualties from the incident, adding that most of the fitness equipment was destroyed.

“The fire incident at the Eco Fitness Hub located at 4th Avenue in Gwarinpa  District in the FCT has been contained. The fire, which started in the lounge of the fitness centre and quickly spread was brought under control by a combined team of the FCT Fire Services, Federal Fire Services, FCT Emergency Management Department, and the National Emergency Management Agency. The FCT Police Command and the Nigeria Red Cross were also at the incident site.

“According to the FEMD, Search and Rescue Team, the fire incident started at about 10 am today and was contained at about noon. There were no casualties from the incident. Most of the fitness equipment at the gym was, however, destroyed by the fire. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained”, the statement read.

According to the statement, the acting Director of the FEMD, Abdulrahman Mohammed, appealed to residents to exercise caution as the dry season set in.

“Abdulrahman advised that electrical appliances must be switched when not in use. He also cautioned against indiscriminate bush burning. The FEMD boss urged residents to always use the 112 emergency toll-free number in the event of an emergency”, the statement added.