Stemming Fire Disasters In Rivers

Fire is one of the most
devastating disasters that can wipe our lives and property in a jiffy. Fire outbreaks occur when heat or heating objects are exposed to combustible materials such as fuel, among others.
Though fire is useful, precautionary measures have to be taken to avert its occurrence in our homes, offices, market place and environment, because the level of destruction occasioned by fire outbreak can be mind-boggling.
The risk of fire outbreak is higher in the dry season, otherwise known as the harmattan season. The harmattan season which starts between November and March, usually comes with dust and mist.Fire during this period spreads quickly because the environment is full of excessive heat and is usually difficult to contain, thus any careless handling of it can end up in monumental loss.
It is very scary the number of recent fire incidents that have been recorded in quick succession in the state particularly in the dry season between December and this year. The December 17 fire explosion that wreaked havoc at the  phase two axis of Rumowoji market popularly called Mile One market in Port-Harcourt, and the January  1 combustion that razed no fewer than 10 shops and some residential buildings at the Ikoku spare parts market in Diobu area of Port- Harcourt are typical examples.
Also among are the December 4 tanker fire that occurred at Iwofe road, killing two persons and destroying over a dozen houses, the December 19 fire outbreak at the Ahoada market in Elele, the December 19 explosion that gutted some sections of the Deputy Governor’s compound and the December 28 fire at Euro Corner shop along Rumuola road, Port-Harcourt.
This season “we all need to be safety-conscious’’ says Barr Dickson Umunakwe, Commissioner for Special Duties, Rivers State. According to the Director of Fire in the State Fire Service, Engr Rahin Oshogharhe Bawa,”an average of 2 to 3 fire incidents occur daily during the harmattan period”.
Safeguarding the lives and properties of the citizenry of Rivers State has been one of the policy thrust of Governor Amaechi-led administration. That is why it has always made palpable efforts to improve the facilities of the fire sector in the state. One of such moves was the refurbishing of existing fire trucks and water tankers, thus making the fire service to have seven functional fire trucks.
This present administration led by His Excellency, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi, in ensuring that fire incidents are reduced to the barest minimum, graciously approved funds to the Special Duties Ministry for the construction of four new fire service stations in the state at Borikiri in Port-Harcourt City Local Government Area, Rumuodomanya  in Obio/Akpor, Degema and Ahoada LGAs respectively, with fully equipped state-of-the art facilities including accommodation comprising 3 and 2 bedroom flats, recreation centres that could assist the fire fighters to perform their duties efficiently.
To demonstrate its seriousness on Fire Safety Management, the Rivers State Fire Service under the leadership of the Special Duties Commissioner, Barr Dickson Umunakwe said made the ministry to embark on the continuous training and retraining of its fire fighters in order to better equip them with the modern day technique of fire fighting for maximum productivity.
Harmattan is globally known to be prone to fire disasters. For instance, according to the Minister of Interior, Mr Abba Moro, “Nigeria loses an estimated 50 billion naira annually to fire disasters. The market is one of the places vulnerable to such disasters says the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Special Duties, Dame Mina Benebo.  Most disturbingly, market fires create and heighten unemployment thus sabotaging government poverty alleviation programmes and schemes.
“Fire disasters are largely preventable’’ says Mr Emenike Umesi, the South-South Zonal Co-ordinator of  National Emergency Management Agency(NEMA) but for  the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Seminitari  sabotage is also a factor that should not be ruled out, citing the Mile One fire explosion. On his part, the Special Duties Commissioner says “Ignorance, carelessness and sabotage are the major causes of fire outbreaks’’.
It is noteworthy that a recent study conducted by Youths Against Disaster Initiative (YADI) in collaboration with NEMA and the Federal Fire Service to understand the causes of fire outbreaks in various parts of the country shows that fire disasters emanate from accidents and carelessness, electrical outlets, faulty wiring, electrical appliances, heating gadgets, unattended stove and gases, children’s attitudes towards inflammable materials.
Fire incidents are not issues to toy with, as the devastating effects are massive. All that is required is for all and sundry to play their role well. All car owners (both private and commercial), all offices and homes need to have functional fire extinguishers and know how to use them. Mostly, fires are extinguished by water or sand. Special foam chemicals experts say they are used in case of oil fire; electric fires are extinguished by switching off electricity and using carbon-di-oxide to extinguish the fire. Forest fires, on the other hand, can be extinguished by beating bushes using hand tool and by cutting a strip through forest to prevent the fire from spreading.
Motorists, particularly tanker drivers, should also exercise caution while driving especially when carrying petroleum products. Fire fighters as a matter of urgency should be given the right of way by motorists for easier emergency operations, they should not be attacked indiscriminately and their trucks vandalised.
Women using gas for domestic cooking need to be very careful this season. It is recommended that cooking pots and pans should never be left unattended even for a while and gas tank, ovens and stoves should be shut off to avoid leakage of inflammables and food burning. Also, in the kitchen, it would be wise to avoid wearing loose clothes that easily catch fire.
Furthermore, each household should create an effective fire escape route and teach their family members how to use it in case of emergency. This is because if a fire breaks out, it is very easy to become disoriented by smoke, flames and darkness, but if they have planned and practiced the escape route, they will be better prepared ahead of a situation when one has to escape fire outbreak in one’s home to a safe place.
For  Mr Kelechi Amadi,  a fire extinguisher distributor in the State, “installation of smoke detector/smoke alarm in homes, offices, commercial complexes etc is typically an indicator of the anticipated fire and this is also an effective way to combat fire disasters’’
Smokers should learn to firmly extinguish their cigarette butts. The use of fire crackers during festivities has also proved to be very dangerous as it could spark unintended fire outbreak as well as cause deafness.
Corporate organisations should train workers on fire safety and emergency management and invest in provision and maintenance of relevant fire safety equipment in all work environment as well as co-operate with government to ensure adequate response to fire emergencies.
All stakeholders including school children, community dwellers, individuals and leaders in various sectors of the society should embrace safety culture in our everyday activities to guarantee preparedness for emergency response.
The present administration is on a drive to stem fire disasters to ensuring a safer, healthier environment, so as to spur development for the benefit of all. Let’s be proactive and help the government succeed. Make safe practice a way of life as it is obvious, it can save lives, property, investments worth millions of naira and reduce the other hazards associated with fires.
For fire outbreaks call the Rivers State Fire Service on:  112,07031522199, 08170279323.

Igbiks is an Information Officer, Ministry of Special Duties.

An aftermath of a fire incident which razed several shops, offices, vehicles and equipment at Olodi Apapa in Lagos On Tuesday Night (7/1/14).

Martha Igbiks