The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Owerri operations office in conjunction with the Federal Fire Service Imo State has held a road walk and sensitisation training to train people on how to reduce and respond to fire outbreaks before the arrival of fire fighters.
Head of NEMA for Imo and Abia states, Nnamdi Igwe, said the agencies organised the roadshow and sensitisation meeting to drive home the lessons, saying it was in response to the onset of harmattan season noted for spreading fire outbreaks.
The campaigns focused on educating the public about the dangers of fire outbreaks during the harmattan season and highlighted effective prevention strategies, while fire officers delivered lectures on fire safety, and emphasised preventive measures and emergency response protocols, even as live fire simulations were conducted, offering participants practical insights into proper fire control and extinguishing techniques.
At the road walk which commenced from Fire Service Junction along Wethedral road in Owerri, Igwe charged Owerri residents to acquire functional fire extinguishers, routinely check them, and install fire and smoke detectors to warn of fire incidents.
He explained that the rally was in partnership with the Federal Fire Service Imo State Command, and appealed to people to keep gas cylinders outside the kitchen and always turn off appliances after use to guard against electrical surges.
At the sensitisation meeting, the NEMA operative disclosed that the agency had partnered with serving National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members to learn how to stop fires from spreading, noting that water and detergent are effective tools before the arrival of professional firefighters.
According to him, the aim of the training was to coopt the volunteers into emergency management, adding that the knowledge and skills would cultivate a mindset of preparedness, resilience, and empathy to make a difference.
Participants were trained on prevention strategies for road tanker accidents, emergency fire safety measures, and prevention and treatment of fire injuries.
ASF Onyeukwu Chioma of the fire service demonstrated how to quell fire outbreaks and appealed to people to turn off fire and smokes carefully and called out the fire emergency number 09092002224, adding that early notice helps.
LEADERSHIP reports that the participants were drawn from the NYSC, Federal Fire Service, market leaders, police, Nigerian Red Cross, journalists and others.
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