Lagos lost N39b to fire in 2012 – Commissioner

Fire incidents across Lagos State in the last one year destroyed goods and properties worth at least N39.61b.

The state Commissioner For Home Affairs and Culture, Mr. Oyinlomo Danmole, revealed this on Friday at a ministerial briefing to herald the sixth year anniversary of Governor Babatunde Fashola’s administration.

He explained that most of the 2,342 fire cases occurred in residential buildings, pointing out that some of them could have been prevented if the right precautions were taken.

The commissioner, however, said at least N139b in properties and goods were saved through quick response by men of the state’s fire service within the same period.

“We are strengthening enlightenment using the various avenues and media on the need for residents to always take precautions against fire outbreaks and what they can do in emergency situations.

“Issues of fire incidents are often prayed against,especially in this part of the world .So there is the need for residents to make adequate provisions for its prevention and curtailment, ” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the commissioner as saying at the forum.

He said the government was upgrading fire formations and establishing new ones across the state to ensure quicker response to emergencies.
He added that 32 fire trucks and other fire fighting equipment had just been recently acquired for the fire service to boost their capacity to respond to fire incidents.