No fewer than 12 persons died as a result of 385 fire incidents in Sokoto state from January till December this year, according to the Director-General of the State Fire Service Department, Ibrahim Dingyadi.
Dingyadi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto yesterday that property worth over N 2.1 billion was also lost in the infernos.
Property worth over N2.8 billion were also saved by the department.
Dingyadi attributed most of the infernos to electrical faults and mishandling of fires in homes, markets and other commercial areas.
“The Department has embarked on series of sensitisation campaigns to raise awareness of the residents on fire prevention and mitigation.
“They are also being sensitised on the need to report fire outbreaks on time, as well as follow laid down rules and regulations in constructing structures.”
The director-general disclosed that the state government had recently ordered for 10 new fire engines for the department.
Similarly, five of the existing ones have been refurbished, while eight new fire stations were being established.
“We are also in the process of rehabilitating the existing fire stations, recruitment of new firemen, training and retraining.
“We are also in the process of taking over the fire engines in the 23 local governments, to boost fire prevention and control.”