The Federal Fire Service, Kaduan Zone, and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), have embarked on an awareness campaign to sensitise the public on preventive measures to curb fire outbreaks.
The campaign had the theme: Theme: ”Achieving Zero Fire Emergency Through Fire Prevention, Detection, Protection and Control”.
It commenced with a visit to the Emir of Zazzau’s palace followed by a sensitisation at Sabon Gari Market in Zaria.
Jonah Ayuba, the State Commandant of the service, said the aim of the campaign was to sensitise the public on what they needed to do in an event of fire outbreak.
He said that during the harmattan season, cases of fire outbreak do increase, saying that it became pertinent for the service to approve the yearly fire awareness campaign.
Ayuba listed the causes of fire outbreaks to include carelessness and willful acts of individuals.
He admonished the public to be fire conscious by observing safety tips to prevent its outbreak.
The campaign, he said, was to advocate households, business premises and public places to install fire extinguishers in case of fire incidents.
Ayuba said,”Given the present situation of harmattan, extinguishers are a necessity as there is no fire incident that cannot be extinguished except an explosion.”
He stated that the office had received an approval to train established organisations to provide fire safety facilities within their premises in case of any fire outbreak.
The Emir of Zazzau, Ahmed Bamalli, commended the service for bringing the sensitisation to his emirate, adding that the palace requires fire fighting equipment in case of fire incidents.
He appealed to the service to train the palace officers on safety measures to curb fire outbreaks.
Responding, Ahmed Karaye, Zone B, Zonal Controller, Federal Fire Service, assured that the service would attach six officers to train the palace personnel.
He said the personnel would be stationed at the palace for three months to ensure that the officials were fully equipped to curtail fire incidents.
Halima Sulaiman, from NEMA, explained that fire had claimed several lives and was responsible for the loss of assets and property.
“NEMA North-West Zone realised that the time is apt on the need to come out and sensitise the public to ensure that all measures are put in place to reduce the negative effects that come with fire disasters.
“Beyond waiting for the fire to happen, what are those things people can do to prevent fire from happening and when the fire happens? What are those steps they should take to lessen the damages?” she asked.
