The Anambra State Fire Chief, Martin Agbili, has said that the state has recorded about eight fire outbreaks in less than 24-hours after the harmattan started.
Agbili in a statement on Sunday listed the affected areas to include Awka, Nnewi, Onitsha, Ogidi, Nise and Enugwu-Agidi.
The fire chief said: “Just yesterday (Saturday), we received and attended to five distress calls, four of which were fire incidents at Awka, Nnewi, Onitsha and Awka, and the last a fallen petrol tanker at Ugwu Nwasike, Ogidi.
“As at 5:30 pm today (yesterday), we attended to three calls of fire outbreaks at Nise, Enugwu-Agidi and Nnewi.
“Fire outbreaks do not just happen; people’s mistakes cause them. We need to be fire safety conscious now. We must know that fire kills, but you can prevent it.”
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The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State, John Abang, was concerned over the recent upsurge in fire incidents since last week. He urged Ndi Anambra and residents alike to endeavour to take precautionary measures to avert or minimize fire outbreaks during this Harmattan period.
vThe CP who stated that statistics by the command showed that the major causes of fire incidents in Anambra State were basically Harmattan season, bush burning, electricity, careless handling of gas cooker, over-speeding and reckless driving by truck drivers among others also expressed regrets over the recent upsurge of fire incidents starting from 21st January 2021.
However, Abang cautioned the public against bush burning and reckless driving especially by trucks laden with inflammable substances and overloading which incessantly cause electric sparks when in contact with Enugu Electricity Distribution Company’s cables hovering across the highways.
He further enjoined residents in the state to always switch off all electronic appliances in their homes, business premises and various offices when not used to avoid electric power surge which could result in fire outbreaks.
Source: TheNation
