The Acting Director, Nasarawa State Fire Service, Mrs. Hannatu George, says the service has saved property valued at more than N5.6 billion from being destroyed by fire outbreaks in 2021.
George said in an interview in Lafia on Thursday that the property items were prevented from destruction in 134 fire outbreaks recorded across the state.
According to her, property items estimated at N972.1 million are, however, lost to fire within the period under review.
She also said that 29 lives were lost while four persons were rescued during the fire incidents recorded from January to December 2021 in the state.
She said that the service received 151 distress calls, out of which 134 were for fire outbreaks, 11 rescue calls about people who fell into wells and open water, and six were false alarms.
She observed that most of the fire incidents were caused by carelessness, misuse of electrical equipment, and cooking gas.
The acting director attributed the successes recorded by the service to the provision of new fire fighting facilities by the state government.
George noted that the fire service had begun a week-long statewide enlightenment campaign on the handling of fire materials during the harmattan.
“The goal is to sensitise the people to the need for fire prevention in our homes and business premises due to the fact that incessant fire outbreaks continue unabated whenever harmattan starts,” she said.
The acting director thanked Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa for providing special funds to the fire service to enhance its emergency operational responses, conducive working environment, and placing firemen on life insurance.
