The Oyo State Fire Service Agency recorded 80 fire incidents and three deaths between January and March 6.

The agency’s chairman, Moroof Akinwande, said in Ibadan on Monday that the frequent fire incidents were due to population explosion.

He said lack of education, enlightenment, and sensitisation on what could ignite a fire and how it could be curtailed was also responsible for the frequent fire outbreaks.

“The agency is doing a lot to tackle fire incidents in the state head-on whenever they happen.

“Oyo State is trying as much as possible to expand to cope with whatever challenges arise from urbanisation and infrastructure,” he said.

The chairman said the government had increased the agency’s budget to N1 billion in the 2025 budget to procure equipment and sensitise citizens to reduce fire incidents in the state.

Mr Akinwande said many people failed to plan for rescue routes in case of an accident when building their houses or commercial centres.

“Our law states that all households and commercial centres must have a safety certificate, but many people don’t.

“From the day of construction, we must have a plan for a rescue route in case of a fire accident; it must be embedded in the plan; this will minimise casualties when a fire accident happens,” he said.

(NAN)