Calabar residents and nearby streets face heavy smoke after a blaze ignited inside the SPAR shopping outlet this Saturday morning, officials said. The fire produced dense smoke that spread over a broad area, and flames were visible from Barracks Road, about 100 yards away from the scene. Eyewitness accounts and early images show fierce flames and a large plume of smoke rising above the building.
Firefighters reached the location and began active efforts to contain and extinguish the blaze. Crews worked at the scene to limit the fire's advance and to protect adjacent properties, though authorities have not released details on the size of the affected area or any injuries. The shopping outlet is identified as a popular retail spot in the city, and the scale of the flames indicates significant damage to the store interior.
No official cause has been determined as of filing. Emergency responders and any investigating agencies will need to examine the point of origin inside the outlet to establish how the fire started. That inquiry will shape any follow-up actions, including building inspections and determinations about safety and reopening.
The immediate picture is clear: a large fire inside a central retail location has disrupted part of Calabar, produced visible flames from some distance, and required a firefighting response. Residents should expect continued operations by emergency teams and potential traffic or access restrictions while crews work and investigators assess the scene.
