Anambra firefighters set to reduce fire outbreaks to barest minimum

The Commandant of the Anambra State Fire Service, Dr Martin Agbili, has said that the service is ready as a disaster risk manager to combat destruction of lives and property caused by fire outbreak.

Agbili said this in an interview with our correspondent on Tuesday in Awka.

He said that Anambra state fire service would stop at nothing to protect lives and property of residents as its responsibility to advance social development.

The fire Chief said that the service was more prepared now to provide efficient fire fighting services than before, as a result of provision of core working materials recently by the state Government.

“I am humbled by the deliveries of core firefighting equipment sent to our office on the directive of Anambra Governor, Prof Charles Soludo.

“We have battled fire outbreaks with less modern working tools over the years in the state.

”Our request to the governor at the later part of 2022 of intense need to have core modern fire fighting tools was granted in full, on April 28.

“We have never had it this good, therefore, no more delays or excuses to effectively and efficiently combat fire outbreak in the state any longer,” he said.

“Having received these huge number of firefighting equipment, namely, the helmet, fire suits, fire retain overall, safety booths, fire man axe, delivery hose, chemical form compound, among other items.

“These are the major tools we need in Anambra fire fighting service for long and now that they have been provided, we will be comfortable to enter anywhere to fight fire without fear of being burnt.

“I am happy that these tools have been procured with the chemical fume compound, the often falling petrol tanker in the state would be adequately taken care of now,” he said.

Agbili commended the commissioner for Power and Water Resources, Mr. Julius Chukwuemeka’s style of leadership for all his efforts to ensure that the equipment were procured as directed by the governor.

He said that the team work that existed among key workers in the ministry made all relevant units to ensure quick resolve of challenges faced by the service in the delivery of efficient firefighting service to the people.

“The DG, Anambra Strategy, Execution and Evaluation (SEE), Chief Emmanuel Onyilofor, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Uzoka, the Supplier/Contractor of the equipment, BOCHEZ Partners Ltd., Officials of Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP) made all the difference too,” he said.

Agbili re-assured the government that his team would not relent in providing support to achieve its desired goal for the people and promised that the government’s willingness to continue to support the State Fire Service would not be taken for granted.

He said that since the government had provided the service with modern tools to work with, the firefighters would work to minimise destruction caused by fire outbreaks.

Agbili said that since they had been provided with PPE and equipment to ensure the safety of firefighters, effective and prompt service delivery was assured.

He advised residents to assist the service serve them better through positive fire prevention habit, adding that “fire kills, so the people need to switch off any electrical gadget not in use at a time.”

“Most of the fire outbreaks occur in residential homes due to power surge in the absence of the occupants, as well as storage of fuel at homes or offices, which tends to explode when heated up,” he said.

Agblili rolled out phone numbers to be contacted in time of fire outbreak as follows, for Fire chief and Director, the following phone number should be contacted: 09077044410, for Fire Risk Relations unit: 09026876442, Amawbia fire Station, 09040134949 and Ekwulobia Station, 09128702719,

He said that Ihiala station could be reached on 09128209809, while Nnewi station on 09078744182, Nkpir on 09128997958 and Onitsha station on 091292426110.