Fire Outbreak: Enugu LG Boss Urges Adherence To Preventive Measures

The Chairman of Enugu South Local Government Area, Hon. Caleb Onyema Ani, has advised residents to adopt proactive measures to prevent fire incidents, particularly this harmattan season.

Ani gave the advice at the weekend during a sensitization programme on fire outbreak prevention organised by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) held at Enugu South Council headquarters, Uwani.

The chairman who was represented by the Deputy Chairman, Hon. Anthony Egbo, applauded NEMA for the sensitisation, adding that it came at the right time.

Ani said that his council area would continue to partner with the Federal and State governments on issues of safety and welfare of the people.

NEMA, Enugu South govt, Red Cross & fire service officials in a group photograph after the sensitization at Enugu South Council

In her speech, the Acting Zonal Coordinator of NEMA in South-East, Mrs Ngozi Echeazu, urged residents to join in the fight to reduce all forms of disasters especially the ones involving human negligence and mistakes.

According to her, preventing fire outbreaks and its highly destructive menace is everybody’s business.

In a lecture, a Deputy Superintendent of Fire, Federal Fire Service, David Ikor,
elaborated on various fire management and control measures.

He noted that all fire starts small, adding: “This is the reason why it should not be ignored but ensures it is put off and the incident leading to it permanently prevented.”

“There is a need to be careful against fire outbreaks; however, do not panic during fire outbreaks for you to be coordinated to take prompt actions to extinguish it,” Ikor said.

During demonstration of how to extinguish fire.

Also, an officer with State Fire Service Officer, Eneje Oforma, illustrated how to use the fire extinguishers and identified the two different types as CO2 (carbon dioxide) and Dry Chemical Powder which he said comes in different sizes.

Mrs Eucharia Onwugbunam, representative of Nigerian Red Cross Society, Enugu, said that the first aid that should be given to fire burns should simply be pouring water to the burn for it heat to subsidise and medical attention sought.

Mr Emeka Oko, Coordinator of Local Emergency Management Committee (LEMC) in Enugu, said that LEMC and other stakeholders would further take the sensitisation message to all nook and crannies of the state.

In a remark, the Secretary to the Local Government, Hon. Kenneth Nnyamah, applauded NEMA and other safeguarding agencies for their efforts and for choosing Enugu South for the training.

He maintained that the safety awareness would boost the knowledge of the people on the best ways to combat fire outbreaks.

“Safety is everyone’s business and everyone is an emergency manager as pointed out here. therefore, I encourage you to take charge of the safety of your environment, put into practice all the positive measures you learnt today to ensure safety anywhere you are” he concluded.

Enugu South LG Media