The Chief Fire Officer, Anambra State Fire Service, Engr. Martin Agbili has disclosed that a total of 114 fire outbreaks, resulting in 15 casualties and five injuries were recorded across the state in 2021.
Engr. Agbili made the disclosure on Thursday in Awka, the Anambra State capital.
He said the service also recorded 40 outbreaks between January and February this year, with 38 of those incidents in the previous month.
He said the estimated value of property destroyed in the fire disasters was not yet available as that was still being calculated.
The Fire Chief said that the use of domestic fuel (cooking gas and adulterated kerosene), and bush burning, were responsible for most of the residential buildings fire incidents.
Engr Agbili advised residents to be highly cautious in using gas cookers and stoves; and also warned against bush burning, especially during the harmattan and dry seasons.
“Those who use gas should ensure the cylinder is outside, they should check for leaks regularly and make a rule that children should not go near such, while camp gas should be used in a ventilated place.
“For those using stove, they should test for the purity of the kerosene, and the best way to do it is take a little quantity and try to inflame it, if it lights with force, it is possible that it has been adulterated with petrol, which is far cheaper than kerosene,” he told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Engr Agbili, however, said the service was battling with emergency response challenge as motorists often refused to give way to fire trucks in heavy traffic and congested areas like Onitsha.
According to him, fire trucks blaring sirens were not on pleasure rides, but on a mission to save lives and property. and those who block their way could become victims one day.
