Residents of Zamfara State have been urged to adopt strict fire safety measures as the harmattan season approaches, a period often associated with increased fire outbreaks across northern Nigeria.
To curb the risks, the Federal Fire Service in Zamfara launched a statewide sensitisation campaign aimed at educating communities on practical steps to prevent fire incidents. The initiative, themed “Towards a Better Zamfara Fire Week,” was organised in partnership with the NYSC Disaster Management Community Development Service (CDS) group.
Speaking at the flag-off event, the Acting Comptroller of the Federal Fire Service in the state, Mr. Sagir Garba, warned residents to take the season seriously, describing it as a “high-risk period” for fire outbreaks. He advised the public to switch off electrical appliances when not in use, keep cooking gas cylinders outside the kitchen, and avoid leaving children unattended around fire sources.
Garba also stressed the importance of ensuring that electrical wirings are regularly inspected, faulty connections fixed immediately, and open fires kept strictly outside living areas. He warned against careless practices such as burning refuse without extinguishing the flames properly and refuelling generators while they are still running.
Though the Fire Safety Week officially spans five days, Garba noted that the command has extended its activities to seven days, adding that sensitisation efforts will continue throughout the harmattan season.
“We intensify our public sensitisation efforts during this season. Even outside harmattan, we send regular reports, but at this period, our activities double,” he said. According to him, the goal is to maintain the low rate of fire incidents recorded during the rainy season, when Gusau metropolis sometimes goes months without a single fire case.
Garba revealed that the service has already recorded 67 fire outbreaks in Zamfara State from January to date, with emergency calls rising sharply during the harmattan. He appealed for more cooperation from the public to help reduce the number of preventable fire disasters.
“Your safety and that of your family is our top priority,” he assured.
A representative of the NYSC Disaster Management CDS group, Mr. Gyum Hyacinth, thanked the Federal Fire Service for organising the training. He noted that the participants learned valuable fire control techniques and promised that corps members would take the message back to their communities.
“We will educate others with what we have learned. It is an honour to be part of this training, and we do not take it for granted,” he said.
The event drew participants from security agencies, traditional institutions, and other emergency management stakeholders, all united in the effort to reduce fire-related risks during the harmattan season.
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