Fire service department rescues 1,228 lives

The Edo Fire Service Department said on Sunday that it saved no fewer than 1,228 lives in the fire incidents across the state between January and June, 2015.

Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the service, Mr Frankly Agbolahor, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin.

Agbolahor said that 1,118 fire outbreaks were recorded in the state during the period.

He said that although no life was lost during the incidents, property worth millions of Naira, including buildings, were destroyed.

He said that some of the lost property would have been saved but for the lack of access to the incidents sites.

The spokesman attributed some of the incidents to electrical faults, and advised residents to disconnect all their electrical appliances when leaving home and clear the grasses near their fences.

He urged the people to always ensure easy access to their buildings in case of emergencies.

He stated that the department had challenges, including inadequate personnel size and lack of fire-fighting equipment, which were hampering its operation.

He, therefore, appealed to good-spirited individuals in the state to assist the department and the government by providing fire-fighting equipment and other facilities to enable it to serve the people better.