It has been revealed that a total of 230 persons died in fire incidents last year in Rivers State.
This revelation was made by a Senior Principal Fire Officer in the State Fire Service, Engr Golden Elenga in Port Harcourt yesterday during a workshop on fire emergency organized by the South-South zone of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). He also said that 304 distress calls on emergency fire issues were made to the Fire Service Department.
In his own address, the South South Coordinator of NEMA, Mr Emenike Umesi appealed to residents in the state and beyond to handle fire cautiously. He warned that there was need to be extra vigilant during the harmattan season while using fire for cooking or handling lanterns and candles, stressing the destructive effect of fire if not properly handled.
He reminded the people that fire was a good servant but wicked master. “The scores of fire accidents that ravaged the country in 2012 is a testimony to the popular saying that although fire is a good servant, it is also an unscrupulous master.”