The National Emergency Management Agency, South-South Zone, on Wednesday held a sensitisation/awareness campaign on fire prevention, mitigation and response in Port Harcourt.
The Coordinator, Mr Godwin Tepikor, told newsmen that the essence of the campaign held at the Ultra-Modern Market, Mile 3, was to raise the consciousness of the traders and general public on the dry season.
Tepikor said that the dry season was synonymous with fire because it was a period that objects or materials would be dry and become combustible.
He recalled that even when the rain was yet to stop in Rivers, the state experienced a lot of fire outbreaks.
“So, we feel that if that could happen during the rainy season, much more could happen now; and for this reason we decided to sensitise the people, especially the traders.
“It is to raise the awareness of people in this season to take precaution, prevent action or inaction that can result to fire outbreaks,” he said.
The NEMA zonal coordinator said that the campaign was done in collaboration with other stakeholders.
They include the Federal Fire Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, Rivers Ministry of Special Duties and the Nigerian Red Cross.
He commended the sister agencies and stakeholders for showing great commitment and cooperation for the exercise.
The Vice Chairman of the market, Mrs Lilian Wofu, commended NEMA and other stakeholders that organised the campaign.
Wofu said that she learnt a lot from the campaign especially the practical aspect of putting out fire.
“I gained a lot as a woman because aside selling in the market, I cook in the kitchen.
“In the past I used cooking pot cover to cover my frying pan when there was fire but now, I know that it is better to use fire blanket and also have fire-fighting materials at home,” she said.
She assured that the union would call for a meeting and educate their members on how to arrest fire outbreaks.
News men reports that the traders and general public were advised to immediately call for the assistance of fire service once fire starts small and not when it is late