A fire that started about 11pm on Wednesday has razed the entire Timbre Market at the Marine Base area of Port Harcourt, putting carpenters, traders and casket makers in jeopardy.

Witnesses said all through the period that the fire raged, no fire service came to help put it out. The Rivers State Fire service is located just about three kilometres from the scene of the fire. Witnesses said calls were put through to the fire service but there was no response from their end. It could not be confirmed if the Nigerian Ports Authority Fire Service, also located within a few kilometres was still functional.

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Affected in the Marine Base timbre market fire were three camps, the Timbre Shed, the Carpenters’ market and the Casket Market. By 10.30am on Thursday the fire was still burning and victims with their sympathisers were seen lamenting their plight.

It was the third major fire that has occurred in Port Harcourt within one week. Earlier fires had occurred at Mile Three Market and Odum Street, Ogbunabali where a shantytown, home to scores of families, was destroyed.

Such fires in Port Harcourt were common during the December/January Harmattan season. But the Harmattan did not occur seriously then. It only became serious in February.