Fire destroys five-unit property

By JASON DOM
A FIVE-UNIT property opposite the Kwik Mart shop in Waigani Central, Port Moresby, belonging to Barlow Industries, was destroyed by fire yesterday but no one was injured.
The fire was alleged to have started inside unit three at around 1.40pm when the tenant called the fire emergency number.
Waigani Fire Service commander Superintendent Arifeae Farapo said the suspected cause of the fire was overloading of appliances, causing an electrical shock.
“Whatever that is inside the five units were all burnt to ashes,” Farapo said. “The fire base information centre at Waigani took the call at the same time and alerted the Waigani Fire Station. Ten firefighters dispatched with three fire engines at around 1.43pm.
Farapo said water pressure from the fire hydrant near the scene was strong enough “so we contained the fire from spreading further to the Kwik Mart residency which is two metres next to the burning building”.