Harmattan: FEMA decries increasing fire outbreaks in Abuja

By Stanley Onyekwere

The FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has bemoaned the frequent incidences of fire outbreaks in the FCT especially in the markets, even as it attributed the menace to human error and manhandling of electrical appliances.
In particular, FEMA expressed concern over residents who locate their gas cylinders in their kitchen, store fuel in their houses and shops and shop owners using generating sets close to people that are cooking, thereby resulting to outbreaks.
Making this assertion, the Director General of the agency, Alh Abbas Idriss, cited examples of Gwarinpa market fire incident, and the recent Kubgo furniture market, fire incident.
Idriss, in a statement from FEMA’s Acting Head, Public Relations, Ngaha Faustina, yesterday expressed sadness over the negative impacts of fire incidences in the FCT which in many instances has led to destruction of public and private properties sometimes loss of lives.
He emphasised the need for residents to be extremely careful in order to avoid fire outbreaks this harmattan session.
According to him, FEMA in its efforts to reduce fire outbreaks in the FCT is embarking on a fire safety campaigns using selected radio, television stations and newspapers to educate residents on safety measures and management, while urging them to visit any fire service Station for required fire defence equipment needed and know how to use them
He adds: “Most fire outbreaks are usually caused by human error and negligence, and can be prevented if we do the right things, so it can be averted through attidunal change.
“The disadvantages of bush burning far outweighs any arguments in favour of it, especially in the rural areas.”
He therefore appealed to traditional leaders and village heads to advise their wards against bush burning especially now that they have begun preparing their farms in readiness for the next planting season by setting fire in the farms indiscriminately which can result to uncontrollable fire.
Furthermore, the FEMA boss urged residents to always put off electrical appliance when not in use, check gas cylinders before purchase to avoid buying expired gas cylinders and ensure its properly locked when not in use.
He equally advised them to desist from buying substandard electrical appliances and avoid manipulating electrical installation to suit their personal gain as a check against fire outbreaks.