A fire safety consultancy firm, Assetbow Limited, has called on Nigerians to ensure proper and routine maintenance of fire extinguishers installed in their premises to combat fire incidences effectively.
Mr Virgil Akama, the organisation’s managing director, said that the advice was pertinent considering the fire emergencies that usually emerged during harmattan season.
Akama said that it was imperative to have fire extinguishers and hydrants fixed at strategic and easy-to-reach locations in homes, workspaces and every other area with human and economic activities.
He said that aside from having the extinguishers functioning properly, it was also important to ensure that the right fire extinguishers for the different types of fires were purchased.
He added that harmattan makes combustible materials more susceptible to ignition, hence, the need to enforce preventive measures rather than reactive actions.
“In most markets, you would find poorly wired and maintained electrical systems which increases the risk of electrical fires aside from light surges and fluctuations.
“Also in homes, unattended open flames, such as from cooking or burning wastes and unsafe handling practices can lead to accidental fires.
“To prevent fires during the harmattan season, routine checks should be conducted on electrical systems and appliances to identify and address potential threats,” Akama said.
He urged the Federal Government to consistently promote awareness campaigns on fire prevention, and safety within communities, and develop and regularly practice emergency evacuation plans to ensure swift and organised responses to fire outbreaks.
Akama said that there was also a need to ensure Nigerians enforce and adhere to building codes that emphasised the use of fire-resistant materials and safety measures during the construction of buildings.
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