WAEC 1992 ENGLISH THEORY QUESTION
6. You were an eye-witness to a fire outbreak which completely destroy the main market in your town. Write an article suitable for publication in a national newspaper describing the incident and suggesting measures that could be adopted to prevent a recurrence.

Sample Answer

THE FIRE OUTBREAK AT TEJUAJE MARKET

What a destructive and calamitous conflagration at Tejuaje Main Market of Lagos! This is the second time in five years of this kind of most unexpected fire outbreak occurring in a market which is the commercial nerve centre of this state. Goods and valuables worth N50 million might have been destroyed. This is my estimation. It all started when I entered the market, last Saturday, for my monthly shopping.

I had hardly finished my shopping when a loud explosion boomed out and got everybody, sellers and buyers, scampering for safety. The immediate cause of the explosion and fire outbreak was not known. But reliable source, a trader, who was very close and also volunteered to speak, told everybody from a safe distance what happened. One of the care-free window shoppers or even layabout had thrown a stub cigarette into a collection of refuse near where some traders parked their cars and lorries. Inside one of the buses were few jewelry-cans of petrol bought and stored to avoid the incessant scarcity and its attendants effects.

Unknown to the smoker and all the people moving about the section of the market where electronic appliances and clothes were sold, some petrol had soiled the area from the leaking container. The glowing cigarette ignited and exploded into a big furnace. The clothing materials and the burnt wires only worsened the whole tragic outbust of fire.

The hectic traffic situation around the market zone and the many junctions contributed to the delay in the arrival of the fire brigade men. More than half of the market was destroyed in the inferno. Traders and buyers were affected in variety of ways. Prices of goods in other small markets skyrocketed. Many lives were lost while others were maimed for life. To avert future occurrence of fire outbreak in this very important market in the state, enlightenment campaigns on safety measures to be taken by the traders and buyers should be stepped up.

The state government should consider as a matter of urgency the situation of fire brigade men and vehicles very near the market. The government can at least enforce the ‘no s*****g in public places edict’ in and around the market. All avoidable fire outbreaks that cost the state and citizens a large amount of money and goods must not be allowed yo occur. Petrol and other highly inflammable substances should be kept from the market arena.

It is high time emergency evacuators of persons and property from the scene of such fire outbreaks were put in place. We all must refuse to toil for and lose valuable items to a good servant but a bad master called fire.

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