Fire Service Saves N5bn Property In 2013

The Federal Fire Service
(FFS) said in Lagos last Thursday that it saved about N5.3 billion property, while property valued at about N6.4 billion were lost to fire in 2013.
Head of Fire Prevention and Inspectorate of the Lagos Command of the FFS, Mr Chika Njoku,  made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen.
Njoku said that the service responded to 282 fire incidents out of 311 emergency calls received in 2013.
He said that 22 people were rescued, while 27 lost their lives, including the Associated Airline plane crash near the Lagos Airport involving former Gov. Olusegun Agagu’s corpse and 14 others.
Njoku blamed most of the fire disasters to over-loading of electricity, storing fuel at home and power surge among others.
The FFS chief said that between January 1 and January 15 this year, the establishment recorded 15 deaths and eight fire incidents in different parts of Lagos.
He urgeed the federal and State Governments to place restriction on fuel tanker’s movement during the day within the metropolis to avoid disasters.
Reacting to the fuel tanker disaster in Apapa, Njoku expressed worry over the incessant disasters caused by fuel tankers in different parts of the country.
The Tide recalls that 10 persons died while goods worth millions of were naira destroyed on January 8, when a fuel tanker fell at Berger Suya Junction at Olodi-Apapa, Lagos, resulting to a fire outbreak.
“We are supposed not to have fuel tankers moving freely during the day in the metropolis.
“Government should ensure that their movements are restricted to night to avoid more loss of lives and property.
b “If there is a fuel tanker accident within the metropolis during the night, the casualties will be minimal,’’ Njoku said.