Fire claims two shops in Aitape

By JACKLYN SIRIAS
TWO shops in Aitape, West Sepik, were burned to ashes on Tuesday after a suspected electrical fault in one of them, police say.
Police commander Moses Ibsagi said the fire started at 5pm on Tuesday in a new Christian Bookshop and spread to the neighbouring TST shop.
“Fortunately, there were no casualties and major injuries,” Ibsagi said.
Aitape Urban local level government manager Canisius Saweni said the fire lasted until 7pm.
“The operators of both the Christian Bookshop, built seven months ago, and the TST shop could not do much to save anything as there was no fire service at Aitape,”he said.
“There were no logistics available to fight the fire.”
Chief fire officer Bill Roo told The National that they would be expanding fire services to West Sepik.
He said they were looking at partnering with West Sepik government and the districts.
Saweni welcomed this as Aitape was a growing town.