FCTA to tackle fire outbreak with Fire Marshals

By Stanley Onyekwere

Worried by the incessant cases of fire outbreak in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, the FCT Fire Service says it’s considering establishing Fire Marshals across the six Area Councils of the Territory, as part of measures to check the menace.
Director of the Service, Engr. Sani Saidu, made this known yesterday at the official flag off of the 2020 Dry Season Campaign at the palace of the Sapeyi of Garki, in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
Saidu, while addressing the traditional leader and his chiefs said, the fire marshals who will be mobilised acrossed the six Area Councils of the FCT, will be trained on basic fire fighting techniques and encouraged to train people in their immediate communities.
“We intend to set up Fire Marshals across the six Area Councils of the FCT who will be helping us get information to the doorsteps of the residents. Where we can not reach, these marshals will get there.
“Though the scheme will be a voluntary one with no monetary agreement between us, the service is going to give them the necessary training while they go back and train others in their communities.”
The Director, who was optimistic that the move will help build a culture of fire safety among residents stressed that, “Destruction arising from fire outbreak has always been colossal both in terms of property damages and the ecosystem.
“It is on this basis that the Hon. Minister of the FCT Mal. Muhammad Musa Bello has mandated the department to carry out an awareness drive to sensitise the farming communities on the dangers associated with indiscriminate bush burning in the territory.
“The significance of this year’s campaign cannot be overemphasises as it coincides with the yuletide celebration where a lot of cooking takes place and fireworks displays by the youth. Let me reiterate the Hon. Minister’s resolves that fireworks
and indiscriminate bush burning for whatever guise is banned in the territory.”
On his part, the Sapeyi of Garki, Alh. Usman Nga Kupi, while appreciating the fire department for their annual reminder on fire safety, noted that the annual campaign is important because it deals with safety of lives and properties.
The traditional leader warned his subjects against bush burning in the name of hunting said, “No body is allowed to set fire in the name of hunting. Like the honourable minister has warned, the act of bush burning will not be condoned because by setting fire on the land, we are degrading fertility of the land and depriving livestock of their food.
“And encouraging herders to go into farm lands. The city center has been over taken by development and to further degrade the remaining land is not proper. “