Bauchi: 66 Fire Outbreaks Kill Seven Between July, September

Sixty-six fire outbreaks in Bauchi have led to the loss of seven lives and the destruction of property worth N112.5 million between July and September 2022.

This is revealed in fire incident statistics shared with newsmen by the Public Relations Officer of the Service, Abubakar Bala, on Wednesday in Bauchi.

According to the data he provided, the Service saved 46 lives and property worth N265.2 million in 66 fire incidents within the period.

He said that the data comprised domestic and industrial fire incidents, adding the service received 38 distress calls for fire incidents in homes with N108 million worth of property lost while N249.9 million others saved.

He said that the service, in the past two months, also received 23 calls for ‘special service rescue’ with 14 lives saved and four lives lost.

The spokesperson added that a distress call of fire outbreaks was also received for the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and other institutions.

“We received one distress call on a hotel fire incident, where we saved N400,000 worth of property while an estimated N200,000 worth of property destroyed in the process.

“We also received two distress calls on shop fire incidents and saved N14.9 million worth of property and property worth N4.3 million lost in the period under review,” he said.

Bala attributed most of the fire incidents in the state to careless use of cooking gas and inferior electrical appliances.

He advised residents of the state to ensure the safekeeping of gas and chemicals as well as switch off electrical appliances when not in use to guard against fire outbreaks.

“Avoid the use of expired and leaking gas cylinders and desist from indiscriminate bush burning.

“Distance children from matches or lighter; avoid smoking in bed and ensure that you douse the filter in water before disposal so that it will not reignite,” he said.