Twelve persons died in fire incidents between January and October in the Federal Fire Service (FFS) Zone F, comprising Lagos and Ogun states.

The assistant controller-general of Zone F, Chika Njoku, gave the figure on Thursday in Lagos at the beginning of an awareness campaign on preventing fire incidents ahead of the year-end harmattan.

Mr Njoku said properties valued at N4.7 billion were also lost to fire in the zone during the period.

He said 133 persons were saved in 216 fire incidents, alongside property estimated at N23.1 billion, within the zone during the period.

The ACG said 180 persons were also rescued from different disasters within the same period.

Ahead of the harmattan, he warned the residents of Lagos against activities that could cause fire outbreaks.

Mr Njoku said the zone had taken the initiative to remind the general public and firefighters to take precautions ahead of the period, which experiences more fire incidents.

“Although we cannot totally eradicate fire outbreaks, we are trying to minimise them and also the negative effects on the affected,” he said.

He encouraged the public to take necessary precautions and to reach out to the fire service in case of any outbreak.

The official promised prompt response to distress calls.

(NAN)