Civil Defence Trains Personnel To Curb Incessant Fire Outbreaks In Anambra State

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Anambra State Command, has embarked on training and retraining of its personnel on fire fighting to curtail incessant fire outbreaks in the state.

 This was disclosed to THE WHISTLER by the state command’s head of training and manpower development, Deputy Commandant Edwin Ugwuja, at Onitsha Area ‘A’ Command of the corps during the exercise.

Recall that recent fire outbreak which occurred at parts of Anambra ( Ochanja fire incident, the Mbuka Obosi market fire and the tanker explosion inside a mechanic workshop at Amawbia) has been unprecedented,  leading to the loss of lives and properties.

Ugwuja said, “We have redoubled our efforts towards fighting fire outbreaks and other crimes in the state. It has been worrisome in the state of late. In less than three months, the state recorded not less than seven fire incidents within Onitsha and the expressway leading to Enugu.

“We also had a fire incident at Lorreto Special School, Adazi. We have decided to retrain our officers and men, especially at the Area Command and divisional levels. We started at Area ‘C’, which is Nnewi Area Command.”

 The trainers visit different area commands every Thursday to deliver lectures on how to fight fire and avert fire incidents at homes, offices and public places.

The training, according to him, dwells on preventive measures to enable the firemen “respond effectively and proactively when distress calls come.”

He added that the State command of the NSCDC is collaborating with sister agencies, such as the Federal Fire Service and that of the state, as well as the Nigeria Police and the Federal Road Safety Corps towards achieving the goals.

He also commended the state governor Willy Obiano for equipping firefighting agencies in the state.

In his words, “Our state command has a well-equipped disaster management unit, although we still need more support in areas of fire fighting trucks, fire extinguishers, and servicing of our tools to enhance operations.”