Harmattan: Anambra Fire Service Reiterates Their Readiness to Combat Fire Outbreaks

By Uzo Ugwunze

Anambra State Fire Service (ASFS) has assured that the agency was fully prepared to counter any incident of fire outbreak in any part of the state.

They further disclosed that the Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration has equipped the agency adequately should any eventuality occur during the harmattan season of the year.

Speaking during a safety awareness and fire prevention market campaign at New Auto Spareparts International market Nkpor, Idemili North LGA, a Director, ASFS Awka, Engr. Emma Chukwudi Chiketa mentioned carelessness and ignorance as major causes of fire incidents.

“We are here to enlighten the traders and market leaders on fire preventive measures. Be fire conscious and practice safety measures anywhere you are wether in your home, shop, market, office. Be careful to do your bit, do not just believe that God is in control, no evil will befall you.

“Make sure you have a fire extinguisher in your car, home, office or shop. Do not hud fuel in the market or shop. Do not plug several gadgets or appliances in one socket. Monitor those people cooking for commercial purposes.

“‘The legislature has passed a bill to ensure that every market installs overhead tanks with water boreholes and industrial fire extinguishers. Fire extinguisher is small but it can save you from losing millions of naira and goods to fire disaster. Apply the extinguisher before the fire service operatives arrive”.

“Security operatives should be monitored to ensure that there are no bad eggs which could connive with evil people to set someone’s shop ablaze. Once it is 6pm or closing time, the security personnel should ensure no person is lurking around behind to cause havoc in the market”.

“Take my number 08069654255 and call in the case of fire outbreak, distress call.
Presently, we are very prepared for any eventuality. His Excellency has been doing so much to equip the fire service. We have fire fighting trucks, water. We work in shifts right round the clock even on Christmas holidays our men are always on duty. Let the people of Anambra reciprocate the good works of Mr Governor by doing the needful,” said Chiketa.

Moreover, Assistant Chief Fire Superintendent, Nwokoye Kingsley Nwabueze advised people to always service their industrial fire extinguisher every 6 months for efficiency and effectiveness.

“How to use fire extinguisher when there is fire: remove the pin, face the nozzle pointing towards the base of the fire. Do not spray on top of the smoke or flame, it will be useless, but if you focus the extinguisher at the base of the fire it will definitely go out.

We have been going to all markets, shopping malls, schools and churches and we hope to cover enough markets in the state during this fire prevention sensitization.

However, the Chairman New Auto Spareparts International market Nkpor, Chief Stephen Obiora Oforleh thanked Governor Soludo and ASFS for the initiative to sensitize Ndi Anambra on the need to take preventive and proactive measures against preventable fire outbreaks.

“Although, we have learnt a lot on fire prevention today, we have our own measures towards checkmating fire incidents because the market is very organized. Every block has a central electric control switch that is put off by the line chairmen at close of market daily. We have a separate section for mounting or operating our electric generators, we do not keep petrol in Jerry cans or allow petrol to remain inside the generator tank at close of market, defaulters were also penalized to serve as a deterrent to others.,” Oforleh said.