A private Fire Safety Consultancy Firm, Assetbow Limited, has called on citizens to ensure proper and routine maintenance of fire extinguishers to effectively combat fire cases.

The Managing Director of the Organisation, Virgil Akama, while addressing journalists on Thursday in Abuja, said that the advice was pertinent considering the fire emergencies that emerged during harmattan.

Mr Akama said that it was imperative to have working fire extinguishers and hydrants fixed at strategic and easy to reach locations in homes, work spaces and every other area with human and economic activities.

He said that asides from having the extinguishers functioning properly, it was also important to ensure that the right fire extinguishers for the different types of fires were purchased.

He added that the features accompanied with harmattan makes combustible materials more susceptible to ignition, hence, the need to enforce preventive measures rather than reactive actions.

“In most markets you would find poorly wired and maintained electrical systems which increases the risk of electrical fires asides from light surge and fluctuations.

“Also in homes, unattended open flames from cooking or burning waste and unsafe handling practices can lead to accidental fires. To prevent fires during the harmattan, routine checks should be conducted on electrical systems and appliances to identify and address potential threats,” Mr Akama said.

The MD urged the Federal Government to consistently promote awareness campaigns on fire prevention, safety within communities, develop and regularly practice emergency evacuation plans to ensure swift and organised responses to fire outbreaks.

Mr Akama said that there was also a need to ensure Nigerians enforce and adhere to building codes that emphasised the use of fire-resistant materials and safety measures during construction of buildings.

“Combining these measures can help mitigate the risk of fires during the harmattan and enhance overall safety in markets and buildings in Nigeria,” he said.

(NAN)