By Emma Arubi
WARRI—MULTI-million naira ultra-modern Delta Broadcasting Service, DBS, Warri, was in the early hours of today gutted by fire that effectively paralyzed transmission both on Television and Radio.

Though the cause of the inferno that allegedly started around 12.05am remains uncertain, the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Oma Djebah, assured that a high powered panel of inquiry would be set up by the state government to unravel the cause of the fire and commended the management and staff of the broadcasting house for their efforts in helping to salvage the situation.

Amongst key areas reduced to rubble by the fire that was still raging as at 12.noon in the main building of the DBS, are the Television and Radio Studios, Master Control Room, Satellite Room, Engineering Workshop, Editing Suites.

Vanguard gathered that the fire started after those on night duty had closed and when the Chairman of the Warri South Council, Mr. Mofe Edema, was contacted, he reportedly mobilized the fire service personnel from SPDC, WRPC, NPA and the State owned fire Service in Warri to combat the fire.

The Acting general Manager of the station, Mr. Eric James in a statement stated that the management is deeply saddened by the unfortunate incident, but promised Deltans and its business partners that a makeshift arrangement have been put in place to ensure that resumption of transmission on Television, saying that radio is already back on air.

When Vanguard visited the station, staff of the Broadcasting Services were seen busy helping fire service personnel in their efforts to put out the inferno while many others were lamenting the incident as they claim it was a set back to the station and their job.

The DBS was able to come on air because the station’s Transmitters was about 100 metres away from the main building that caught fire.