Federal Fire Service Sensitized Residence On Fire Outbreak Prevention
By Katherine Abayomi.A.
Port Harcourt-The Federal Fire Service Rivers State command has carried out a dry season Fire safety sensitization campaign to commerate the week,thus is to create awareness, educate, and advise people on how to avert fire outbreaks in the office, market, and homes.
The Federal Fire Service held road work from Garrison to Rumuola in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Capital, demonstrating basic fire fighting knowledge to the public.
The commander of the Federal Fire Service Rivers state command ACF Hawa Weli, speaking to our correspondent, mentioned that the orientation is timely based on the weather conditions that make people prone to fire outbreaks.
Commander Weli has urged people to embrace safety as everyone’s responsibility. She also gave tips on how to manage any fire situation. She encouraged parents to educate their children to be mindful of the use of fireworks during this period so as not to cause any fire outbreaks.
“In case there is any fire outbreak, do not panic; if you cannot tackle the fire, they should call the federal or state fire service and make sure they call us on time. The public should give way for us to pass, and they should be a little bit friendly with the firefighters, for we are coming to help, so we should not become victims while carrying out our work,” she said.
She stated that Citizens should at least have a fire blanket; it helps to curtail the fire. A Car extinguisher can also extinguish gas fires and should be kept at home. She also advised that building occupants should evacuate when they find out that the fire is getting out of hand and call on the fire Service to do the needful.
The fire service educates the public that people who are not allowed to use fire extinguishers, such as the elderly, asthmatic patients, persons with disabilities, and children, are not allowed to use fireworks.
The state Federal fire service boss commended the executive Governor of the state, Sir Similaya Fubara, for his support of the agency and also appealed for his intervention in the Service for more utility vehicles and some other equipment to make their delivery seamless and swift.
Some of their partners for the event, the federal Road Safety Agency, also used the opportunity to advise and inform the public that they shouldn’t carry fuel along with them while traveling, as it could cause a fire outbreak, and informed them about the mandate to arrest anyone seen with such.
A representative of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) advised citizens to adhere to all rules concerning fire to avoid any major fire disaster; however, they are on the ground to manage issues within their jurisdiction.