How Fire Service saved ₦3.8bn property in Adamawa

The Federal Fire Services in Yola rescued eight persons and saved property worth ₦3.8 billion in 64 fire incidents in the state in 2021, Top Naija reports.

Mr. Philip Odu, Yola Zonal Commander of the service disclosed this on Monday.

He said: “From January 2021 to date, the command has attended to 64 fire outbreak calls, carried out 11 rescue operations, during which eight lives were saved while three lives were lost respectively.

“Also, in the period under review, property worth ₦ 3.87 billion was saved while property worth ₦294.60 million was lost to fire disasters.”

The zonal commander identified a lack of public cooperation as a major challenge affecting the command’s services, especially during operations.

According to him, on many occasions, our officers are attacked and their equipment destroyed by unruly residents.

”Following the incessant attacks on our officers while on duty by unscrupulous elements, Nigeria’s Security and Civil Defence Corps have attached some Arms Squad personnel to support and protect us whenever we are going for rescue and fire outbreak operations,” Odu said.

He also identified the obsolete Fire Service Act of 1963, noncompliance with fire safety code by residents, and lack of attention by state governments to the needs and welfare of fire service as some of the challenges impeding its operations.

On the working relationship with other sister agencies, he explained that there was cordial and impressive working relation.

The fire chief warned the general public to desist from false distress calls, stressing that the command would henceforth not take it lightly with any person found wanting in this regard.

The Federal Fire Service (FFS) previously explained how it reduced fatalities associated with fire incidents, saying in 2021, 70 lives were lost as against to the 147 deaths recorded in the preceding year.

This was as it disclosed how it saved property worth about N19.4 trillion in 2021, praising Nigerians and sister security agencies for their cooperation.

Controller General of Fire, Dr Ibrahim Alhaji Liman announced this in a statement issued Friday in Abuja and signed by Service Public Relations Officer, Ugo Huan.

He also assured Nigerians that the Service is now better positioned to effectively respond to fire incidents and other emergencies.

He said: “If you check our fire statistics this year in comparison to other years, you will see that this year there is a drop in the loss of lives from 147 lives in 2020 to 70 lives in 2021 and increase in the estimated property saved from N1.4 trillion in 2020 to N19.4 trillion in 2021”.

Liman added that efforts by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Administration to safeguard the lives and property of Nigerians has led to the procurement of fire fighting assets, training and motivation of staff of the Service.