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Raymond Ozoji, Awka
Anambra State Fire Service says it will commence fire safety week in December to sensitise the people on fire safety measures especially as Christmas celebration approaches.
The chief fire officer of the state fire service Engr. Martin Onyedikachukwu Agbili who disclosed this to our correspondent in his office at the agency’s headquarters in Awka, said that there was need to educate the citizenry on fire safety precautions especially as the dry season enters its peak.
Agbili stated that the aim of the fire safety week was to alert Ndi-Anambra that it is the dry season and they need to be fire safety conscious so as to avoid anything that can cause fire damage in their homes, markets, churches and other places.
He said the state fire service is also planning to go to churches to sensitise citizens about the fire safety measures to take this Yuletide even as he cautioned reckless handling of petroleum products at home and in public places to avoid explosions.
The fire chief equally advised that people should desist from scooping petroleum products from fallen tankers as such is prone to disaster, adding that the fire agency will work in synergy with other sister agencies to ensure that people don’t stampede fallen petrol tankers in a bid to siphon fuel.
He said the agency will educate citizens on the need to have first aid fire-fighting equipment like the fire extinguisher and so on and also ensure that they are in good condition for emergency response.
He recalled that on October 17th this year, a fire outbreak caused by a trader in the market pouring fuel into a running generator destroyed Nkwogbe market in Ihiala. He said it was important to emphasize that those at home should not add petrol to a gen set when it is on because it is dangerous and deadly.
Although he stated that prior to the fire incident at Nkwogbe martket, the closest fire station to Ihiala was the fire station at Nnewi, he said Governor Willie Obiano has provided a fire station in the market for rapid response in case of fire disaster.
