Mu’azu Shehu

Kebbi State Fire Service, on Saturday, announced that it had recorded 153 fire incidents and saved properties worth over N485 million from destruction in 2021.

Director of the service, Alhaji Yahaya Garba Zazzagawa, told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi that the fire incidents took place between January to December.

“From January to December in 2021, we recorded 153 fire incidents and no death was recorded as we saved properties worth over N485 million from destruction.

“The incidents occurred on these dates of Jan. 18, Feb. 18, March 28, April 11, May 14, June 7, July 6, Aug. 12, Sept. 3, Oct. 2, Nov. 17 and Dec. 22.

“Unlike in 2020, we recorded a bit reduction of the fire incidents, where we recorded 173 fire incidents, one death and we rescued one person alive,” he said.

He attributed the reduction in the number of death recorded to the enlightenment campaigns intensified by the department in 2020.

Zazzagawa said to prevent further fire outbreaks in the state, it was imperative for the residents to always be careful in handling electrical appliances and other inflammable items.

“About N135 millions worth of properties were lost to the fire, and N485 million of the properties saved during the fire incidents,” he said.

He attributed the fire incidents to mismanagement of electrical appliances, electricity surge, improper use of inflammable items and engagement of unqualified electricians.

Zazzagawa also enjoined smokers to always ensure that cigarette butts were properly disposed, especially when in the grassy areas in the harmattan.

According to him, the fire service needs to have more functional vehicles for quickly responding to fire incidences in the state.

“The fire department is only managing three rickety-old trucks out of nine vehicles, and recently the Federal Fire Service provided one modern fire fighting vehicle to facilitate the effort in combatting fire incidences in the state,” he said.

Zazzagawa also appealed to the State Government to adequately equip the department for prompt responses to distress calls and fire emergences across the state.

“We are understaffed as we have no enough manpower that is needed to proper respond to distress calls appropriately as we need at least 100 additional staff in the state,” the director said.