The Federal Fire Service in Rivers State said it has successfully combated 131 fire cases in the state since the beginning of the year 2022.
This was disclosed by the commanding officer of the Federal Fire Service in the state, DCF Abdul Alfa.
Alfa said properties worth over N2.63bn were lost to fires within the period in review.
According to him, “From January this year to November, we were able to fight 131 fires from our record. The expected property loss was N2.63bn, then the expected property saved from January to November 2022 was N18.1bn.”
The fire service boss said out of all the fire cases, only three lives were lost.
“We find it a bit difficult to get to the fire in good time because of other road users. If you see a fire vehicle coming with a siren, without being told you should know that this vehicle is going to attend to an emergency, most vehicles block the road and refuse to give us the right of way and as such, it always affects our response time.”
He pleaded with the state government to sensitize residents on the need to clear off roads when they (the fire service) are en route for an emergency.
“The state government can help us create sensitization or awareness on-air so that, if [citizens] see any fire service car coming with a siren, they should know that the vehicle is going to attend to an emergency,” Alfa added.
