Fire service warns against fuel hoarding, bush burning

The Federal Fire Service has called on Nigerians to take precautionary measures in order to reduce to increasing level of fire outbreaks in the country

The FFS spokesman, ACF Paul Abraham, who made this call while speaking in a telephone interview with Saturday PUNCH, explained that the harmattan season was one major cause of the increased rate of fire incidents in November and December.

He, however, identified hoarding of fuel, illegal tapping of electricity and use of substandard wiring materials, uncontrolled bush and sewage burning, use of fireworks and knockouts during the festivities as some of acts contributing to fire outbreaks.

The PUNCH reported that in December 2022 alone, about nine fire incidents were recorded across different states, destroying property owned by individuals and corporate agencies.

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Though the majority of the cause of the fire remains unknown, some were reported to have been caused by electrical faults and petrol tankers.

According to the FFS spokesman, preventing the incidence of fire is a safer and cheaper approach compared to fire fighting.

Abraham said, “Because of the dry nature of the harmattan season, which is characterised by dry grass, dry trees, dry weather, dry environment, and fluctuation in weather, fire is easily ignited because the three elements that generate fire (heat, oxygen, and fuel) are readily available.

“When these three elements come together, fire is inevitable. It is called the fire triangle. From our own statistics, we pre-empted it, hence the early campaign on prevention that we started.”