The government of Anambra State has voiced concern over the state’s regular fire outbreaks, claiming that the majority could have been avoided.
The state’s population is being advised to prioritize fire safety in their homes and offices by the Commissioner for Special Duties, Rt Hon. Barr. Beverly Ikpeazu-Nkemdiche, in a press statement.
The commissioner was responding to two fire events that were captured on Friday, February 16, 2024, at a telecommunications mast in Agu Awka and a residential structure at Rockland Estate, Awka.
She said: “Already, the state has recorded 24 fire incidents between September, 2023 and February 16, 2024. In January, 2024 , there were nine fire incidents in different parts of the state while there are already eight outbreaks this month alone.
“This gives grave concerns especially given the fact that most of the incidents were preventable.”
She stated that although the Anambra State Fire Service, led by Fire Chief Engineer Martins Agbili, deserves praise for putting out the flames, sparing lives, and causing significant property damage, the people of Anambra must work with the state government to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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“Anambra people are advised to always ensure that all electrical appliances are switched off when not in use.
“That repairs and engineering works on electrical connections are carried out by trained professionals, avoid indiscriminate bush burning, install fire extinguishers or hydrants where necessary and invite the State Fire Service to conduct thorough fire audits in residential and public buildings under construction,” she added.
Some of these measures, she said, are necessary to stop fires from starting. She also mentioned that the state government has promised to buy more fire trucks, train more personnel, and establish fire stations in each of the state’s 21 local government areas and in close proximity to all of the state’s major markets in order to speed up the state fire service’s response time to any fire emergency.
