22nd May, 2014
By Grace Igho Amomah
The cost of fire incidents is obviously enormous. It results in pains and deaths to victims, wastes time, money and materials and damages equipment and structures. It is, therefore, for these reasons that it is disheartening to know that most fire disasters are not acts of God but rather the products of human errors and carelessness. They could have been avoided if we were more safety conscious. It is only in this part of the world that people store petrol, a highly inflammable material, in their living room.
Our responses to catastrophes are still reactive. The fire-brigade approach of rushing out to quench fire all the time, rather than figure out how to put in place measures to prevent fire outbreaks is a direct manifestation of our normal tendencies for lack of prescience. We must accept that safety simply means being pro-active. Many of us still leave our offices at the end of the day without ensuring that all electrical appliances are shut down to prevent outbreak of fire in case of power surges. In almost every household in Nigeria, matches and other materials that could trigger fire outbreak are kept within the reach of children.
The Lagos State Government initiative in establishing a Safety Commission for the state since 2010 is quite laudable. The Commission has since its establishment been at the forefront of creating awareness on the dangers of unsafe practices that cause fire and other disasters in the state. Its role in dealing with issues relating to safety practices in the state has been quite commendable. Equally, the state government has been able to reposition the Lagos State Fire Service which was established in 1972 to respond to cases of fire outbreak and other emergencies in the state. Since its creation, it has continued to grow in leaps and bounds. Under the current administration of Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), a lot of efforts are being made to ensure the efficiency of the State Fire Service. This includes the purchase of 32 Dragon pumpers fire fighting trucks, extrication and rescue equipment, breathing apparatus, provision of utility vehicles, improved welfare packages for staff among others.
Equally, in order to step up the activities of the Fire Service and totally rebrand it, the state government has completed the Lekki Phase 2 and Abesan Housing Estate, Ipaja fire stations. These additional fire stations will further increase the proximity of fire service to safeguard Lagosians against fire disaster. Also, government has made available a total of 500 customised fire protective coats, trousers, boot and helmets with cocks and gloves for the staffs of the fire service. Additionally, the frontage of all the 8 existing fire service stations in the state have been rebranded with aesthetic landscaping to make their environment more friendly . The stations include those at Old Alausa/New Alausa, Old Lagos State Fire Safety Service, Ikeja Fire Station/New Lagos state Fire safety Ikeja fire station, Old Lagos State fire Agege/new Lagos state fire and Old Ilupeju/new Ilupeju.
Other measures put in place by the state government to ensure efficiency of fire service in the state include the creation of additional fire service stations and approved construction of (7) additional mini fire service stations at and Lagos East, Eti-Osa, Alimosho, Ikotun/ Igando, Oriade, Apapa, Iganmu and Ojo Alaba.
In the same vein, the Fire Service Station at Alausa, Ikeja, Agege and Isolo are equally approved for re-branding. Furthermore, government has purchased a total of 5 Hillux Rapid fire international vehicles, Bronto sky lift, Aerial Ladder Platform fire fighting vehicles and one foam fire truck all in a bid to enhance efficiency. Similarly, thermal image camera to help locate trapped victims and detect the primary source of fire during fire fighting operation have been procured for the state fire service, while provision of new operational and ceremonial uniforms to all officers of the fire service to enhance the image of the staff and boost their self-esteem have also been made. Installation of new inverters at the Headquarters of the State Fire Service as alternative power supply for the service and enhance internet accessibility are other integral parts of renewed efforts geared towards rebranding the state’s fire service.
Similarly, the State Government through the Ministry of Home Affairs and Culture, recently presented a cheque of N5 millon to Mr. Sikiru Agbaje, an officer of the Lagos State Fire Service, who sustained severe injuries on his hands, legs and other parts of his body while on duty at a fire scene in Ikotun, Alimosho Local Government Area. The cheque was presented by the Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Oyinlomo Danmole who assured the State Fire Service officers that government under the administration of Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), will continue to take their welfare and occupational safety as a priority while gallant performers in ensuring the safety of life and properties of Lagos residents will not be overlooked.
Despite government’s interventions aimed at re-positioning the fire service, notable challenges are still being faced by the state’s fire fighters. These include the perennial Lagos traffic jam, crowd control problem, provision of a well packaged insurance scheme for fire fighters, water shortage among others. However, with the current efforts of government, all these challenges would soon be in the past.
•Amomah is an IT student with the Features Unit, Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.