By Olajide Idowu
Osogbo – Mr Adekunle Ibrahim, Staff Officer, Osun Fire Service, said a total of 59 fire incidents were recorded in the state between March and November, this year.
Ibrahim disclosed this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Osogbo.
According to him, the number was a reduction in fire outbreaks, owing to a massive sensitization campaign by the state Fire Service and the Osun Fire Safety Committee, set up by the state government.
He said, “87 fire outbreaks were recorded in the state between January and February, this year, before the Osun Fire Safety Committee, which comprises of 75 per cent of firemen in the state, was set up by the state government, to reduce and eradicate fire incidents in the state’’.
Ibrahim said the committee had been going to different establishments and organisations within the state to inspect facilities, sensitixz people about fire prevention and enforcing the code of the Fire Service on business owners, to provide fire extinguishers for their business premises.
He said Royal Palaces were equally visited and that the royal fathers too were told of the need for fire prevention, as artifacts in the palaces cannot be replaced when consumed or destroyed by fire.
Ibrahim said there was need for the public to equally be fire safety conscious in their everyday dealings as just anything can start a fire outbreak.
He advise people to always clear bushes around their homes, stating that there were chances of fire outbreaks getting out of hand in the harmattan season, as dry bushes could aggravate any small fire.