Kaduna Fire Outbreaks: 65 Lives Perished In 2019

By Bimbo Ogunnaike

The Kaduna State Fire Service has disclosed that it recorded 523 fire outbreaks and 65 deaths in the state between January and December 2019.

The state Director of Fire Service, Paul Aboi,disclosed this in Kaduna on Wednesday,adding that the incidences were recorded in Kaduna, Zaria and Kafanchan zones.

Aboi said the fire outbreaks were caused mainly by carelessness in the use of electrical appliances and ignorance about handling of naked fires.

“The high rate of fire outbreak is usually from December till April because the period is the core dry season,” he said.

He stated that in the course of responding to fire distress calls, the office rescued 63 persons alive, 141 injured while 65 persons died.

“The efforts of the Kaduna State Fire Service saved the state over N199 billion worth of goods while properties destroyed are estimated at N58 billion from over 523 fire outbreaks in the state between January and December 2019.

“Carelessness of residents is a major cause. i hope that the advocacy programme being embarked upon by the state government will help correct the anomaly and ultimately reduce fire incidents to the barest minimum,” he said.

“Fire Prevention Unit of the service has been going to houses, offices, schools, markets and worship centres to sensitise people to fire preventive measures and what to do in case of outbreak,” he said.

He advised people to always call the service first any time there was fire outbreak, as “calling fire service after battling fire outbreak unsuccessfully would cause more damage and total destruction to property”.

The director, however, commended residents for not attacking fire fighting personnel and trucks when they arrive at fire scenes.

Aboi warned residents to be careful during the dry season as the period was prone to fire disaster, saying fire usually rage out of control during the period.