The
Sokoto State Fire Service said on Thursday that it recorded 11 deaths and saved
77 lives in 533 fire incidents it responded to in the state in 2017.
Alhaji Murtala Muhammad, the
Director-General of the State Fire Service, gave the figures in an interview
with our reporter in Sokoto.
He said six persons were
rescued while properties valued at N3.1 billion were lost, with the agency
being able to save N4.2 billion worth of properties during the period under
review.
Muhammad blamed the fire
incidents on electrical sparks and He said the organization has 18
functional fire-fighting vehicles and 13 operational fire stations
equipped with modern fire-fighting tools within Sokoto metropolis.
According to him, the Aminu
Tambuwal-led administration bought 10 new vehicles, refurbished the existing
ones and constructed eight fire stations.
He said the administration
also drilled two boreholes and provided two water tankers as back-up to
facilitate the agency’s activities.
Muhammad also lauded the
state government for the prompt supply of chemicals used in putting out fires
as well as the provision rain boots and jackets.
“ At present, the
organisation has 142 workers whose salaries are being paid regularly and
also enjoying shift and hazard allowances,’’ the fire chief said.
He, however, appealed to the
state government to provide the organisation with an ambulance to
complement its services to victims without waiting for responses
from hospitals which may delay emergency services.
Negligence,
urging residents to be vigilant and embrace safety measures.
The
director-general also requested for the employment of additional 300 or
400 workers to effectively man the vehicles as 24 personnel were
needed to handle each fire-fighting vehicle in the three shifts.
Muhammad, who noted that each
of the 23 local government areas in the state has a fire-fighting
vehicle, urged the government to promptly deploy them equitably after
refurbishment.
He commended the cordial
working relationship existing between the organisation and other security
agencies such as the Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The fire chief, who noted that
the state government was the sole financier of the agency, pointed out
that it was also not accessing support from national and
international bodies.
He, however, said that
assistance on manpower training, advocacy and equipment would enhance the agency’s
operations.
The director-general said
that Gov. Aminu Tambuwal’s efforts on fire prevention and safety of
lives and properties fetched him a prestigious fire safety award.
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