Ugo Nosiri, Owerri
The Federal Fire Service has stressed the need for Imo residents to have necessary fire fighting requirements in their houses to help curb fire before the arrival of the fire fighters.
The Zonal Controller Imo and Abia Federal Fire Service Zone, Mr Chukwunonso Nnaemeka, stated this during a road walk to flag off this year’s Fire Safety Week.
Mr Chukwunonso said the annual event with this year’s theme as ‘Fire prevention is cheap, fire outbreak is expensive,’ is always done during the harmattan season to create awareness on steps to take for fire safety.
“We do this every year, so that people get to know that the environment they are living now has changed. They have to be cautious for the fact that fire can start at any time.”
The Zonal Controller noted that the zone has embarked on sensitisation to hospitals, schools, market places and filling stations to educate Imolites on safety precautions.
The State Controller Federal Fire service Imo State Command, Mr Felix Eleziuwa, called on Imolites to ensure that every combustible material does not get in contact with heat sources during this period to avoid fire outbreak.
Mr. Eleziuwa maintained that the command has always been at alert and always on ground to fight fire early and called on Imo residents to call the federal fire service emergency numbers early to enable them get to the scene on time and curb the fire early.
“We have what we call right of way. Any time you see an emergency vehicle on siren, you give it right of way. You don’t know, it might be your house we are going to fight fire.”
The state controller listed some of the fire fighting equipment to have in the home to include carbon dioxide extinguisher, dry chemical powder, fire blanket and sand bucket.
He gave the numbers to call for emergency as 08092002224 or 09014366957.
The Public Relations Officer of the Command, Mr. Micheal Anowa, disclosed that the Command had fought and was able to curtail about 40 fire outbreaks between the first and the third quarter of this year.
Mr Anowa called on Imo residents to ensure they switch off all electrical appliances before leaving their homes.
The road walk was attended by the Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigerian Immigration Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, National Emergency Management Agency, the Police, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and other paramilitary agencies.
