Candle Fire Razes Home In Umuahia, Leaves Family Homeless

A family of six have been left homeless after a fire, reportedly caused by a lit candle, razed their residence at Agbama Housing Estate, Umuahia, Abia State.

Eyewitnesses in the area told Kristina Reports that the fire broke out late at late night hours of Monday, December 22, 2025 while the four children of the household were reading with the aid of a candle before falling asleep while their parents were away at the time of the incident.

Neighbours who noticed the flames alerted relevant authorities and raised an alarm, but by the time help arrived, the building had already been engulfed by fire.

Speaking on the incident, Godwin Nwosu explained that the candle was bought due to persistent power outages in the area, as his wife was preparing for her forthcoming National Certificate in Education (NCE) examinations.

His wife stated that the family hardly relied on candles but made an exception that night to enable the children study.

“The children lit the candle to read their books and slept off,”

Godwin Nwosu, a tricycle Rider in Umuahia, also confirmed that the fire destroyed all their belongings and nothing was salvaged from the house.

“The fire razed the entire building. Everything we worked for throughout 2025 was lost. We were not at home when it happened; only ashes remain,”

The couple, however, expressed deep gratitude that their children escaped without injury. They attributed their survival to divine intervention, noting that the situation could have been far worse.

The family has appealed to the Abia State Government, well-meaning individuals, and public-spirited organisations for financial assistance and a means of temporary accommodations until they rebuild what they have lost to the fire.