The Chief Fire Officer of Abia State, Arch Nnanna Arua, has said the state recorded 46 fire incidents and one death resulting from carbon monoxide inhalation, while also conducting rescue operations this year.
Arua stated this while speaking with LEADERSHIP in Umuahia, the state capital, on the State Fire Service’s preparations against fire outbreaks during the dry and harmattan seasons.
He said: “Actually, this is a time for reflecting on the dangers that are associated with fire outbreaks across the state, especially as we are moving into the dry and harmattan seasons. We all should be up and doing because the kind of
weather we are envisaging within this space of time will be very harsh, considering the heat wave. The harmattan is going to be intensive.
“We have already started to feel it. The hotness of the whole area is coming down due to what we call ozone layer depletion. So, we are going to see a lot of radiation.
“Without being told, we all should understand that this is a time for us to take stock of what we have to ensure we prevent our environment from any possible fire outbreak.
“We are 100 per cent ready to face the seasons because we have what it takes to do it. What we are saying is that our people should be very, very conscious of their environment.
“We have enough chemicals to tackle flammable fires. We have the fire engines and other vehicles, equipment and personal protective equipment required because it’s a risky job.”
He said there had been a difference between the service’s operations under the previous and present administrations in terms of the number of vehicles, firefighting equipment and the headquarters office complex.
“As soon as Governor Alex Otti came on board, he, in his wisdom, said the situation cannot continue because of the level of investments and transformations his administration is embarking on.
“You see, some of the outcomes of the decision are the supply of new fire engines and equipment, the attachment of an ambulance to the service, and the complete retrofitting and fencing of the headquarters.
“The building is equipped with modern technology. If you go to the watch room or the control room, you can very well understand what the governor is looking at.
“This is going to be a technological department that will have what it takes to fight fire. So, our call centre is going to be one of the best in the country,” he said.
He said that, as a result of the decision, the state was witnessing a holistic approach to the service and that, in a couple of weeks, the headquarters would become a state-of-the-art fire station.
He said the major causes of fire outbreaks in the state included power surges, arson, indiscriminate use of candles, bush burning and the stockpiling of inflammable chemicals and petrol, among others.
On public enlightenment on fire prevention and control, he noted that the service was on top of the situation through advocacy and training conducted mostly before the beginning of the harmattan season.
“Having a fire extinguisher in your home, business premises or office means that you have already started fighting fire. You are even the best firefighter before the arrival of the firemen.”
He observed that the challenges facing the service were peculiar to those of federal and other state fire services, including inadequate fire stations, firefighting equipment and manpower.
According to him, the way forward was the adoption of the internationally recommended standard of locating a fire station within every 22.4-kilometre radius.
“In all the 36 states, I don’t see any of the states that is maintaining the 22.4-kilometre radius of having a fire station. So, that is why I told you that it is a general issue,” he added.