By Olukayode Babalola

Nasarawa State Fire Service is looking for female firefighters.

Alhaji Dalhatu Dogara, its Chief Fire Officer said on Wednesday in Lafia that there were only four female fire fighters in the state.

Dogara observed that the need for more women to join the fire service became imperative because some residents hold the belief that if their houses went on fire, male firefighters should be prohibited from accessing the scene.

“We live in an area where some do not want males to fight fire in their houses because of their women. With more women in the service, we can use them to access the households and lecture them on how to prevent fire outbreaks,’’ he said.

He said the four female firefighters in the state “have been participating gallantly in fire fighting and their performances make us call for more to join the service’’.

Dogara said the service received 172 distress calls in 2020, out of which 155 were on fire incidents, eight for rescue operations and nine false calls.

He said eight lives were lost to fire in the state in 2020, but that the service saved four other lives.

“The estimated value of property lost as a result of the fire outbreaks was about N201 million, while the estimated value of property saved was N2.7 billion. Most of the fire incidents occurred in residences,’’ he said. (NAN)

By Ezra Musa

Seventy-six persons died in 615 fire incidents recorded in Kaduna State in 2020, the Director of the state Fire Service, Mr Paul Aboi, has said.

The director said this in Kaduna on Tuesday during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said 139 others were injured in the fire incidents, while 85 people were rescued.

The director said the state lost more than N2.5 billion to the fire outbreaks, while properties worth N5 billion were salvaged.

According to him, the number of fire incidents increased from 523 in 2019 to 615 in 2020 due to negligence of residents in spite of series of enlightenment.

He said electricity was the major cause of the outbreaks and advised the people to be vigilant as any object could trigger a fire.

“ When there is fire, we want the people to call us in good time and motorists should give way for our fire engines to get to those emergencies in good time, “ he said.

Aboi attributed the delay in responding to distress calls on time to distance and inadequate manpower.

“Distance is a challenge as some roads are not friendly and fire will not wait till the firemen get there.”

The director urged the state government to recruit more firemen to replace those that died or retired so as to bridge the manpower gap in the service.

“I have 74 staff across the state and will need more to meet up to the challenges in the years .

The director also stressed the need for residents to switch off all electrical appliances when not in use and to keep inflammable materials away from their homes.

He said the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) was also working on a plan to sensitise the public on the importance of cooperating and supporting fire fighters to carry out their duties without molestation. (NAN)

By Gabriel Agbeja

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted sunshine and haziness across the nation from Saturday to Monday.

NiMet`s weather outlook released on Friday in Abuja predicted sunny and hazy conditions over the northern region on Saturday.

According to it, the North Central region should be in sunny condition with partly cloudy skies over some parts of the region throughout the forecast period.

“Partly cloudy skies with intervals of sunshine are expected over the inland cities with prospect of few thunderstorms over parts of Edo, Delta and Ogun in the afternoon and evening period.

“The coastal cities of the South should be mostly cloudy with chances of few thunderstorms over the coastal parts of Rivers, Bayelsa and Cross Rivers in the morning hours.

“Later in the day, few thunderstorms are expected over parts of Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Cross Rivers, ” it said.

The agency forecast sunny and hazy conditions over the region in the morning hours of Sunday.

It further forecast dust haze over the northern region later in the day.

NiMet envisaged the North Central region to be in sunny condition in the morning and partly cloudy skies with intervals of sunshine in the afternoon and evening period.

According to it, partly cloudy skies with intervals of sunshine are expected over inland and coastal cities with prospects of few thunderstorms over parts of Cross river and Akwa Ibom state during the afternoon and evening period.

The agency anticipated dust haze conditions over the northern regions on Monday.

“The North Central region should be in sunny condition in the morning, while partly cloudy skies with intervals of sunshine are expected in the afternoon and evening period.

“Partly cloudy skies with intervals of sunshine are expected over the inland cities throughout the forecast period.

“ Partly cloudy skies with intervals of sunshine are expected over the coastal cities with prospects of few thunderstorms over parts of Cross River, Akwa Ibom and River during the afternoon and evening hours, “ it said. (NAN)

By Bosede Olufunmi

The Kano State Fire Service says 134 lives and property worth N635million were lost to fire incidents in the state from Jan.1 to Dec.31, 2020.

Alhaji Saidu Muhammad, the Public Relations Officer of the Service said this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Kano on Tuesday.

Muhammad said that the service also saved 1,077 lives and property worth N2. 56 billion in 786 fire incidents during the period.

“Most of the fire outbreaks were caused by carelessness in handling cooking gas, use of inferior electrical appliances and poor wiring in homes.

“About 134 lives and property worth N635 million were lost to fire in the period under review,” he said.

Muhammad said that the service recorded 693 rescue calls and 184 false alarms during the period.

He said that the service plans to retrain its 350 staff in 2021 for effective performance.

Muhammed advised residents to always handle fire with care to prevent fire outbreaks.

“Parents should desist from sending under aged children to fetch water from wells, rivers or ponds alone.(NAN)

By Douglas Okoro

The  Commissioner of Police (CP) in Ebonyi,  Mr Philip Maku, has ordered full investigation into the fire outbreak that left no fewer than five persons dead on Jan. 1, in the state.

Mrs Loveth Odah, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Ebonyi, said this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abakaliki.

She said that the CP was devastated by the tragic incident that left many dead, including a three-year old child.

“The commissioner of police,  has ordered discreet investigation into the incident to ascertain the actual cause of the fire outbreak.

“We do not really believe that someone can actually fire a cannon all in the name of celebrating the New Year because even during traditional burials,  we normally give approval before cannons can be fired .

“So, this time around, we were not aware that the man wanted to fire a cannon, it’s unusual and see what great disaster it has caused.

“The CP has therefore, directed that full scale investigation should be carried out to find out why such tragic incident should happen when people were celebrating the New Year,” she said.

The police spokesperson, however, said that the number of casualties from the incident had risen from one to five persons.

“Four additional deaths were recorded from among those rushed to the hospital for treatment while the other survivors are still receiving medical attention at the hospital,” Odah added.

Meanwhile, Dr Nelson Ogbaeja, an indigene of Akaeze and one of those involved in the rescue operation, told NAN that seven of the victims taken to hospital had died.

Ogbaeja added that one of the survivors was in a critical condition, having sustained first degree burns.

NAN recalls that the fire incident occured around 8 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 1,  in Mr Ogenyi Chukwu’s residence in Iyioji, Akaeze community.

The fire allegedly brokeout when a cannon ‘Nkpolali’ loaded with gun powder  in the house,  had contact with fire.

Chukwu said their children and 11 other relatives were seeing a movie  in the house when suddenly the cannon exploded and fire engulfed the entire house leading to pandemonium.

Reacting over the incident, Chairman, Ivo Local Government Area, Chief Onyebuchi Ogbadu, commiserated with families of the victims.

He said that the council would do everything within its powers to ensure that survivors were given the best medical attention.

Ogbadu described the incident as ‘tragic’ and prayed for the repose of the souls of those lost in the inferno. (NAN)