Harmattan: NEMA sensitizes Kaduna residents, traders against fire outbreak
By; Mohammad Ibrahim, Kaduna.
National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has sensitized Kaduna residents and traders on measures to take to prevent fire outbreak in and around their environments.
It would be recalled that during harmattan season, fire outbreaks are often on the increase across the country.
Addressing traders at a Sensitization Workshop organized by NEMA on the danger of fire incidents held at Kasuwar Barchi, Kaduna, North West Zonal Coordinator, Musa Ilallah said the sensitization program has become an annual event to the agency.
He urged traders to be conversant with telephone numbers of the fire and emergency services.
“We urge you to assist the fire fighters with necessary information. It is also good to purchase fire extinguishers and learn how to use them properly,” he said.
Ilallah added that the sensitization was aimed at reducing massive fire destruction, particularly during the hamattan season.
Kaduna State has recorded about 500 fire outbreaks between January 2015 and now which destroyed property worth millions of naira according to the state fire service. Most of the outbreaks were attributed to electrical faults.
Representative of the State Fire Service, Ali Baba blamed residents for being careless by leaving behind electric appliance on in the houses without switching them off when leaving homes.
“Hamatan is here people must be careful because it’s a season that fire outbreak are recorded in markets places. For instance, in Kaduna State alone we witnessed about 500 fire incidents from January this year to date.
“This is very serious and the causes of the fire are attributed to electrical fault. Which is why we always urge residents not to be careless with electrical appliances in their homes, shops and markets,.” he said.
He urged leaders of markets within the state to ban smoking within markets premises so as to avoid fire incidents.
