The fire services in Zamfara and Sokoto have embarked on awareness campaigns to prevent fire incidents during the harmattan.

They said their target was to get the people fully aware of the devastating risk of mishandling fire.

In Zamfara, the director-general of the State Fire Service, Abdullahi Dauran, in Gusau, said the campaign was to make the people very conversant about safety measures while handling flammable materials.

“It is better to prevent a fire outbreak than to manage it when it occurs. Fire trucks cannot access some areas in case of eventualities. There are many areas where access to where fire occurs is difficult, and this is a hindrance to our men in quenching fire, such that sometimes it results in loss of life and property,” Mr Dauran said.

Mr Dauran, therefore, urged every household to possess fire safety equipment in case of emergency.

He said residents should always contact the fire service in case of fire and other emergencies through 07066815196 and 08087310350 for prompt response.

In Sokoto, Nuhu Lawal, a fire prevention officer, said the agency held critical stakeholder meetings on fire prevention and mitigation across the state.

Mr Lawal described the harmattan period as the highest in terms of risks to fire outbreaks.

According to him, the service has responded to about 433 fire incidents and saved about N7 billion properties in 2023. He added that the service has fire-fighting vehicles in each of the 23 local government areas of the state, zonal offices in the three senatorial districts, and some selected locations.

NEMA head of the Sokoto office, Aliyu Kafindangi, said they held stakeholder meetings in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara to enlighten the people on ways to avoid fire disasters as the harmattan commences.

Mr Kafindangi said NEMA also planned to hold road walks and campaigns in public places to sensitize the people on handling fire emergencies.

He underscored the importance of synergy between key actors in fire management and prevention in the state.

(NAN)