Anambra Records 100 Fire Disasters In One Year

BY ABUCHI IFESINACHI, AWKA

Anambra State Fire Service says the state has recorded not less that 100 fire disasters   between 2013 and 2014 respectively.

The fire incidents from the information made available to with the reporter  has its concentration in major commercial cities like Onitsha , Nkpor , Awka , Nnewi , Ekwulobia , Umuneze as well as other rural areas in the state .

Mr.Chukwuemeka Akpagu the officer in-charge of the Blue-Watch of the Anambra state fire service during an exclusive interview with the reporter at the fire service  headquarters Awka told the reporter  that  fire incidents in the aforesaid commercial cities were on the increase due to the negligent behaviours of members of the public . Mr.Akpagu also disclosed that the casualties from the aforementioned fire disasters were inestimable as the disasters claimed lives , destroyed property worth millions of naira and its attendant psychological trauma.

He therefore emphasized the dire need for the Anambra state government to provide personal protective equipment for the officers and men of the state fire service as they were always at the forefront of fire fighting trying to save lives and property. According to him the fire fighters inhaled smoke which he explained that such unwholesome substance was inimical to their health.

The Blue-Watch officer of the state fire service who called for synergy amongst all and sundry in fire fighting , further admonished members of the public to always wear what he described as safety character to prevent fire out-breaks in Anambra state . He said they have embarked on routine sensitization campaigns to educate the public on safety measures to fight as well as forestall the incidence of fire disasters.

Mr.Akpagu observed that while the agency made frantic efforts to render its services effectively and efficiently in the state , the agency was equally constrained by some teething problems that militate against its operation and effectiveness. He said that in Anambra state some fire fighting equipment were still lacking which he noted was a setback to the operations of the 8 fire sub-stations currently in use in Anambra .

He bemoaned the fact that Anambra has no hydrant where the state fire service could generate water for fire fighting due to the fact that the hydrants have been destroyed by road contractors handling road construction projects in the state and that there are no water bore-hole facilities in some of the out-stations situated at Aguleri , Onitsha , Ihiala , Nnewi , Umunze and some others .

Although he further revealed that 5 more fire sub-stations were still under construction across the Anambra , Mr.Akpagu also solicited for more operational vehicles and other facilities necessary to enhance their operations to enable them respond more proactively to fire incidents in all the nooks and crannies of Anambra state .