Awka, Feb. 5, 2023 – The Anambra State Fire Service recorded 119 fire incidents in the state in 2022.
Martins Agbili, the Director of the Anambra State Fire Service, said this on Sunday.
He attributed the incessant fire outbreaks in the state to poor handling of fires and other inflammable materials, adding that properties worth millions of naira were being lost to fire outbreaks.
According to him, the rate of fire outbreaks calls for the concern of a responsible and responsive government that places the safety of its citizenry at a premium.
“Fire outbreaks in the state have become a perennial problem. It leaves enormous damage to materials, injuries to persons and disruption of economic and social life.
“Some of the fire cases are mostly caused by negligence on the part of those who use it, hence the need to prioritise the management and prevention of fires in our environment to avoid destruction of lives and properties,” he said.
The fire chief promised that the fire fighters would continue to intensify efforts to reduce fire outbreaks in the state.
“Everyone has a role to play in the mitigation of fire outbreaks. You need to adhere to fire safety rules to save your property, your life and the lives of people around you.
“Fire officials, as first responders to emergencies and incident management, have been empowered and equipped by Gov. Chukwuma Soludo administration to tackle any form of natural and man-made incident across the state,” he said.
He appealed to residents to use the emergency toll-free lines to report any case of fire incident to avert loss of lives and properties. (GBN)
