Abuja – Experts on fire control have called on governments to upgrade fire fighting equipment and also build the capacity of fire fighters to meet the need of large population.
They say the concern has never been so felt when one remembers how much of human and material losses we have suffered in the hands of fire outbreak.
According to reports over 3,200 cases of fire incidences were recorded nationwide in 2015.
Alhaji Jiddah Musa, the Borno Director of Fire Service, said that the state recorded 200 cases of fire accident in the state capital, Maiduguri, in 2015 between January to December 2015.
He however said that there were no deaths recorded but about 34 people were rescued from separate fire incidents.
He explained that the agency had procured about 61 fire fighters vehicle that would assist to enable quick response to distressed calls.
“We have enough fire fighting vehicles but we have shortages of manpower in terms of staff.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560”]
“The state government had promised to recruit more fire fighters to complement existing ones on ground.
“The gesture was to ensure effective and efficient service delivery in fire prevention and attack with a view to reducing it to the barest minimum.
“We are also working out modalities to build fire service distressed unit across the state capital to enable quick response to fire
incidences,” he said.
Also in Jigawa, the state government has recorded a feat in its fire control says Muhammad Rabiu, the Director of Jigawa Fire Service.
He said that the organisation was able to record the feat with modern equipment provided to it.
Rabiu told NAN in Dutse that the fire service in the state is well equipped, effective and functional at all times.
According to him, by its mandate, the organisation was able to save many lives and property from fire disasters across
the state.
“We send our staff for basic and comprehensive fire training schools in Dakata, Kano and Surulere in Lagos to meet modern fire fighting strategies.”
Rabiu stated that any time they get alarm on fire outbreak, his officers and men respond aggressively to arrest the situation.
He stated that the Jigawa fire service has all modern fire equipment for their operations.
The Director however appealed to government to provide enough water points in different locations where they can easily get water for their operations.
In Bauchi, it was not such cheering news as the state lost 20 lives and property worth N200 million to fire disasters in 2015, an official said.
The Public Relation Officer (PRO), of the State Fire Service, Mallam Abubakar Bala, told NAN in an interview that the fire service saved 90 lives and property worth N800 million during the period under review.
He also said that the service received 200 distressed calls from individuals during the period, and promptly responded to them.
Bala said that the agency’s 314 trained workers and two functional vehicles were inadequate to cater for the state.
He said that the agency had 10 grounded fire engines and one 18-seaters bus that needed total overhauling.
Bala however said that the agency needed more 200 workers and 12 fire fighter vehicles to effectively cover the state including training of personnel in fire fighting techniques.
He also said that the service requires offices in Dass, Jama’are, Misau and Ningi in addition to the current two offices in Bauchi and Azare to serve the state more effectively.
NAN investigations revealed that 20 senior officials of the agency had been deployed to the headquarters of Ministry of Works over alleged diverting money released for repairs of four fire engines.
Currently, 10-man panel has been setup by the state government to investigate the affected officials and to also reposition the agency.
According to reports, in Lagos state there exist two fire service outfits, the Federal Fire Service, Lagos Command and Lagos State Fire Service.
The Lagos Command Controller, Mr Olusola Aderemi, said that the command had three fire substations and the main station housing the fire headquarters.
He said the command had four- not- too -functional machines, one mini machine, and four motor bikes.
The Director of Lagos Fire Service, Mr Rasaq Fadipe, said the State had 16 fire stations and 400 fire hydrants.
According to him, out of the 400 fire hydrants, 50 are constructed newly while the 350 existing ones are rehabilitated.
He said that those rehabilitated also included the hydrants owed by the Federal Fire Service.
Fadipe said between January and November 2015, the Lagos State Fire Service saved estimated property worth N98.28 billion in about 1,638 fire operations recorded within the period.
He said that an estimated property loss was N16.38 billion within the period, while fire emergency calls received were 1,356; rescue calls were 113, collapsed buildings 11 and false calls 158.
The Fire Chief said that the fire victims rescued alive were 99 and victims recovered suspected dead were 79.
NAN reports that in Lagos all enforcement agencies are alerted during emergency and disaster cases which means, almost all the agencies were always on ground to tackle it.
The survey shows that training of personnel and capacity building has been a major challenge in the sector.
For instance, in Akwa Ibom Fire Service Department, it requires a minimum of 400 fire officers for optimal operations in the state.
The State Director of Fire Service, Mr Ndarake Ukpe, told NAN in Uyo that the service had a total of 335 personnel handling operations at the 35 fire stations across the state.
Ukpe said that the department was well equipped to respond to any situation even in high rising buildings, lamenting that its major handicap was shortage of manpower.
“We have written to the governor, which I know, there is going to be employment of staff this year to fill all the vacancies.
“We are requesting the governor to recruit for us personnel, so that we can distribute to all fire stations across the state,” Ukpe said.
He told NAN that the department had turntable ladder that could take a fire man to any high rise building in case of fire outbreak.
Ukpe said that each of the 31 local government areas in the state had a fire station, while four others were sited at strategic positions for emergency.
He said that the state had not experienced any fire outbreak in the market due to enlightenment campaigns carried out by his department.
“We have one functional fire station in Akpan Andem market in Uyo metropolis and the station is well equipped for service delivery.
“This accounts for successes recorded in the past years, we have not recorded any fire outbreak in the market,” Ukpe said.
He lamented that one of the challenges facing the organisation was that the public do not call the fire service on time in case of fire outbreak.
The director observed that members of the public do not always obey the fire service siren on the road during emergency.
He advised the public and motorists to always give fire trucks during Strengthening emergencies response to fire outbreaks. (NAN)