A major fire outbreak at the SPAR shopping mall in Calabar, Cross River State, has seen hundreds of businesses and goods worth millions of naira destroyed and shop owners and employees left in its wake as shop owners and workers are devastated. The fire swept through different parts of the shopping mall in Calabar and the businesses were affected by that fire, including a pharmacy, clothing outlet, perfumery and phone shop, people say.
The incident caused panic in the mall and around as flames and smoke consumed parts of the commercial facility. Workers who witnessed their workplaces and merchandise being consumed by the fire were left in tears and many were unable to save valuable stock and equipment. The destruction has raised questions about the financial impact of businesses in the mall.
The firefighting crews faced great challenges when battling the fire, according to media reports. The firefighting equipment was limited to just one fire truck, according to the incident report. The hydrant system was also overwhelmed and firefighters didn't have an adequate water supply to combat the flames; water was very hard to supply, the firefighters had no way.
The limited emergency response to the fires has raised concerns about fire preparedness at major commercial centres in Calabar. Shopping malls carry large quantities of combustible materials, from clothing, packaging, cosmetics, electrical equipment and other merchandise. A delay or lack of response in such a situation can cause flames to spread quickly from one business to another.
Now the affected businesses are facing significant financial losses. Pharmacies, fashion stores, perfumeries and phone shops have huge inventories, so the destruction of stock could represent months of investment for individual business owners and retailers. Businesses determine the extent of damage and how quickly operations can resume.
Crowds also gathered around the scene, further complicating the situation for emergency personnel working on the scene. People gathered to watch the firefighting operation and some people tried to steal from the affected premises, the reports indicated. In such situations, rescue and firefighting work is more difficult and people are endangered and it would be risky to the public.
No injuries were reported in this fire - one of the few positive aspects of the incident. But the lack of casualties does not reduce the amount of damage businesses and property owners face. Investigators and the authorities will have to determine how the fire started and what safety and electrical problems could have prevented it from spreading.
We believe that the incident has also made us realize how important fire prevention and emergency-response systems in large commercial facilities need to be in place to prevent fire from becoming a disaster. Functional hydrants, firefighting vehicles, clearly marked exits, fire alarms, extinguishers and teams of trained firefighters and other good response personnel are very important to keep a small fire from becoming a big disaster.
Live this morning from Spar Calabar
— CALABAR RANTS (@CrossRiverVine) August 22, 2026
Fire outbreak 💔 pic.twitter.com/wv88jfBHD2
For businesses operating in big shopping centres, the incident is a reminder that insurance coverage, emergency evacuation procedures and regular fire-safety inspections are more important than others. For authorities, it is a reminder that firefighting agencies need to have sufficient equipment, personnel and reliable water infrastructure in place to respond in the event of a major event.
And as assessments continue, shop owners and workers still have to tally up their losses and decide what to do. The Calabar mall fire will likely provoke more discussions about emergency preparedness and fire-safety standards in commercial businesses across Cross River State.
The fire at SPAR Mall is an example of how quickly a fire can turn a busy commercial centre into a mass disaster site. While the fact that almost nobody was hurt is a relief, the high loss and difficulty firefighters have faced and the challenge of fire-safety preparedness at Calabar has also made Calabar need for better emergency response and fire-safety services.
