The Director of Akwa Ibom Fire Service, Mrs Gwendolen Ukpe, says property worth N I billion have been lost to fire in the state since January.

Speaking with newsmen in Uyo, she said the fire service in the state responded to 47 fire calls while property worth N300billion was saved during the period.

Ukpe said there was a remarkable improvement in the operations of the service compared with the previous year, attributing this to the commitment of both government and staff.

The director, however, said inadequate water supply in fire stations occasioned by inadequate storage facilities had always hindered the performance of fire fighters.

“You know that without water, we cannot perform our duties effectively; the fire service is supposed to have water in all fire stations to attend to emergency situations promptly,” she said.

She said poor communication system was another challenge facing the Service, adding that the communication gadgets bought for the organisation by the state government would solve the problem once they were installed.

“When the equipment are installed in the fire stations, then the fire service will be able to respond promptly to distress calls,” she said.

The director advised corporate organisations to send their staff to fire service organisations for training on how to handle fire emergencies.

She also allayed the fears being expressed in some quarters that fire service charge money for services rendered.

“Let me once again inform the public that the fire service is being financed by the state government. Our salary is being paid by the government and we do not charge a fee for services rendered,” she said.

Ukpe advised corporate organisations, banks and petroleum marketers to obey safety rules by installing the required fire extinguishers in their offices.

She said an inspection team would soon go round to enforce compliance by organisations, warning that defaulters would be prosecuted.