The Gombe State Fire Service has urged residents to prioritise fire prevention as the state approaches the harmattan season.

The state director of the service, Idris Musa, gave the advice in an interview in Gombe on Monday.

Mr Musa said residents must jettison carelessness with fire, given its devastating impact on lives and property.

He urged residents to procure fire prevention equipment like fire extinguishers, blankets, and other firefighting equipment, and to regularly check and repair faulty electrical appliances.

“Every household, office and business establishment should have basic firefighting equipment and appropriate fire safety devices.

“During the harmattan season, people increasingly depend on electrical appliances such as microwave ovens, electric cookers, pressing irons, room heaters, electric kettles and other domestic equipment.

“We strongly advise residents to be cautious when using these appliances and to regularly check and repair faulty appliances,” he said.

Mr Musa also urged rural dwellers to maintain a safe distance between their homes and farmlands to prevent fire from spreading from farmlands during bush burning.

He cautioned farmers whose farmlands were close to filling stations against indiscriminate bush burning, as some farmlands were often near fuel stations.

“Farmers must avoid burning bushes, especially close to filling stations and residential areas.

“Similarly, filling station operators must have functional fire extinguishers and also ensure that their facilities have perimeter fencing to minimise the risk of fire spreading into the premises,” he said.

The fire service director said sensitisation campaigns were ongoing across the state to educate people on fire prevention and safety precautions.

He said the exercise became imperative in view of the season, as several factors such as dryness, gases, electrical equipment and chemicals could contribute to fire outbreaks.

“We visit these places with training equipment, including fire extinguishers, fire blankets and other necessary materials, to demonstrate how to control fire outbreaks.

“We are also distributing fire safety materials to educate members of the public on how to prevent fire outbreaks, protect themselves and maintain safe environments,” he added.

(NAN)