17th November, 2015
Kazeem Ugbodaga
The Lagos State Government has disclosed that properties estimated at N89.26 billion have been saved from being consumed by fire in the last 10 months.
This was disclosed by the Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Mr Rasak Fadipe, while lamenting the rising cases of fire incidence in the Lagos metropolis.
According to him “over 1,558 fire calls were received and promptly responded to, while properties worth over N89.26 billion were saved from January till date. This figure attested to the fact that people are yet to comply with the safety advocacy campaign of the government and this has become a source of concern.”
To curb the tide of this menace, he said that the agency had been repositioned and transformed with provisions of new equipment to meet the challenges associated with mega city.
Fadipe warned Lagosians who were fond of buying and storing the premium motor spirit (PMS) as a result of scarcity of the product to desist from the act and be fire safety-conscious.
The fire boss said no fire outbreak is small or big in terms of the destruction and trauma victims encounter during and after the outbreak.
He urged parents and guardians to warn their children against careless handling of electronic appliances, naked wires and gas cookers among others as all these are major sources of fire disaster.
Fadipe appealed that basic portable fire protection equipment such as fire extinguisher, fire blanket and fire alarm system should be kept within reach in order to prevent the spread of fire outbreak if occurred.
To the management of petrol stations, Fadipe sought for corporation in the fight against fire disasters and urged them to adhere strictly to safety precautions by not dispensing fuel in polythene bags, selling to vehicle while in motion and by preventing a cluster of motorists around the dispensing pumps so as to avoid scuttle that could spark off fire.
He enjoined them to ensure that safety culture is mandated within the station premise and should not hesitate to quickly call the Lagos State Fire service on 112 and 767 to report power surge or spark.