Police Blames Timber Market Fire Outbreak On Power Spark

By Kelvin Ololo

The Cross River State Police Command has blamed the recent fire incident that razed a popular wood market in Calabar- Akim Timber market, on “a power spark.”

A devastating fire had burnt down parts of the timber market, destroying goods worth millions of naira and heightening concerns over a growing pattern of fire incidents in Cross River State.

The blaze, which occurred late Friday night, March 27, 2026, at about 8:30 PM, engulfed the busy Timber Market located beside the Police Barracks, sending panic through the area and forcing traders to scramble in a desperate bid to salvage their goods.

Initial eyewitness accounts indicated that the fire broke out after traders had closed for the day, prompting many to rush back upon noticing the flames. Early reports also suggested a delayed emergency response, with no immediate presence of fire service officials at the onset of the incident.

READ: Calabar: Akim Timber Market Gutted By Fire Days After Gas Station Explosion

However, in an official statement issued by the Cross River State Police Command and signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, the authorities clarified that a swift and coordinated emergency response was activated upon receipt of the distress call.

According to the statement, police patrol and tactical teams were rapidly deployed to the scene under the direct coordination of the Commissioner of Police, CP Rashid B. Afegbua. The intervention was further strengthened by the combined efforts of the Cross River State Fire Service and the University of Calabar Fire Service, whose timely response helped contain the inferno and prevent it from spreading to the nearby Police Barracks.

Preliminary findings from the police suggest that the fire may have originated from a spark linked to public power supply within the market. However, a full investigation is currently underway to ascertain the exact cause.

The fire was eventually brought under control and completely extinguished at about 1:55 AM in the early hours of Saturday, March 28.

While no lives were lost, the incident left a trail of destruction, with timber, planks, and other materials reduced to ash, resulting in significant financial losses for traders.

The latest incident comes barely days after a gas station fire in the Edibe-Edibe area of Calabar South, raising fresh alarm over fire safety standards and emergency preparedness across the metropolis.

READ ALSO: Cross River: What Led To Calabar Gas Explosion Narrated

Authorities have urged residents and business owners to strictly adhere to fire safety measures, particularly in densely populated commercial areas, as investigations continue.

For many affected traders, the damage is already done, another harsh blow in a week marked by repeated fire disasters and growing anxiety over public safety in Calabar.