The Bauchi, Gombe, and Jigawa governments have rehabilitated their fire service trucks to enhance response to fire disasters and other emergencies.

Emergency response officials in Bauchi, Dutse and Gombe, who spoke in separate interviews on Sunday, said the measure was part of a comprehensive campaign against fire outbreaks during the harmattan.

Ismaila Misilli, the spokesperson for Gombe Government House, said the state government had procured modern equipment for its fire service to enhance emergency response during harmattan.

He listed the equipment as compound fumes for oil-related fires, rescue lines, safety kits, and uniforms.

Mr Misilli said this had significantly strengthened the service’s capacity to effectively respond to emergencies and combat fire disasters.

“Gombe State has state-of-the-art firefighting equipment and a well-trained workforce in the Fire Service.

“The personnel are ready to respond effectively to fire incidents; the service has already activated its rapid response mechanism as harmattan approaches,” he said.

Also, the Bauchi State Fire Service said it has initiated community sensitisation activities to create awareness of safety and preventive tips against fire outbreaks.

The spokesman of the service, Mohammed Bature, said the campaign was being conducted in collaboration with the Fire Safety Community Development Service of the National Youth Service Corps.

He added that the campaign aligned with the service’s preparedness ahead of the harmattan, adding that “we are here primarily to protect the lives and property of the people”.

According to him, the fire service will extend its outreach to motor parks, schools and other public places to sensitise the people on fire preventive measures, including during the harmattan.

He said the service has three operational firefighting trucks while three others were being overhauled, with the Federal Fire Service providing backup during emergencies in the Bauchi metropolis.

Similarly, the Federal Fire Service in Jigawa expressed readiness to contain any fire outbreak and other emergencies in the state.

The command’s public relations officer, Jamilu Habibu, said they were on high alert ahead of the harmattan season.

“This is because we have re-strategised our activities, especially on operational issues,” he added.

According to Mr Habibu, the fire service personnel are up-to-date in handling the sophisticated fire fighting equipment recently provided by the federal government.

“Our fire fighting appliances can fight fire in a single building at three different parts.

“For instance, if there is a fire from the upper floor, downstairs and another part, we can respond to it at the same time,” he said.

He said the service had deployed two units of firefighting facilities to Hussaini Adamu Polytechnic, Kazaure, and Dutse International Airport.

“These units are a combination of FAAN, Federal and State Fire Service personnel that could help in fighting any fire outbreak in the state, especially in Dutse metropolis,” he said.

The FSS spokesman in the state also said they were conducting community sensitisation activities to create awareness of fire safety.

However, a civil society activist, Imam Adam, said there were very low public enlightenment activities to mitigate fire outbreaks at the grassroots.

Mr Adam urged emergency agencies in the state to step up the campaign to curb indiscriminate bush burning resulting in fire outbreaks in rural communities.

(NAN)