The head office of Saclux Nig Limited, manufacturers of Saclux Paint was yesterday gutted by fire in Umuahia, Abia State Capital.
The inferno which started at 1:30 in the afternoon consumed goods and the company properties estimated at millions of naira.
The men of the Abia State Fire Service were seen battling to contain the fire incident when our correspondent visited the scene.
A witness who identified herself only as Ada, said the residents living around the complex got to know of the inferno when they sighted tick smoke emanating from the place.
She said they had joined hands with some staff of the company to stop the fire from spreading to nearby buildings before the men of the fire service arrived.
A personnel of the state fire service who did not want to be named, said they raced to the scene to fight the fire after receiving a distress call from the company staff.
The personnel who said the cause of the inferno had yet to be ascertained, urged Abia residents nonetheless to be careful with the way they handle inflammable materials and always contact the fire service on time in the event of any fire outbreak.
