FIRE ALERT: Balogun Fulani Youth Hints on Dangers of Fire Outbreak, Cautions General Public on Causes and Preventive Measures
As parts of her social responsibilities, the foremost sociocultural group in the Ilorin Emirate, Balogun Fulani Constituency Youth Development Association has sensitized and cautions the general public on the dangers of fire outbreaks, and its preventive measures to avert the menace during and after the harmattan session.
In her awareness publication, the Association’s General Secretary, Com. Taiye Erubu described “Fire disaster “as an unplanned incident posses as one of the most destructive manmade disasters of all time that destroyed lives and properties…”
The alarming cases of fire incidents recently recorded in kwara state and beyond are resulting in high percentages of fatalities, injuries and loses. Other loss includes: Phycological effects on the victim of the fire incidents, economic set- backs, lost of hope, etc. Thus, this has made the needs for an awareness campaign on the dangers and hazard of fire incidents in our communities. During Harmattan session, this dangers increases and occured in high rate compares to other periods
As a result, the Balogun Fulani Youth therefore cautioned the general public to be more careful during this “Harmattan’ Period’; termed as the “dry and windy session” that create the perfect environment for fires to ignite and spread rapidly.
Harmattan is a season in West Africa, which occurs between the end of November and the middle of March. Hence, this period is possibly to end by March, 2025; or unpredictable, due to climate change or so. This season; we’re already- in is characterized by the dry and dusty northeasterly, with wind blowing. And from such, a single spark from a discarded cigarette butt, an unattended cooking fire, or faulty electrical wiring can escalate into an inferno within seconds.
Some weeks back, the Ìlorin Metropolis recorded some unfortunate fire incident in some communities, and at our neighboring community of Ita Amadu on the 3rd of December 2024, Haroona Kanninke Shopping Complex, Ipata on 14th December, while at Ile Alate, Abayawo which claimed the life of a 41years old man happened in Dec. 9th, 2024 respectively.
It’ll recalled that, this menace seriously affected and razed downed Maigida Comp, Ẹdun during harmattan session at the beginning of this year; 15th January, 2024 which claimed hundreds of millions of properties, with affected shops at its environs.
We therefore alerts the members of the public that, during this time of the year ( Harmattan session), one of is outcomes of unmanaged effects that comes with this season; FIRE OUTBREAKS. The number of fire outbreaks recorded between November and March takes a large chunk of the whole percentage every year, due to the ways and how both the human and materials reacts to the effects of the harmattan. Sadly, the harmattan season has always been associated with high risk of fire outbreak due to low humidity, dry air and fluctuations in temperature.
Thus, it’s imperative to sensitize ourselves on the ways to minimize and ultimately prevent fire outbreak during this period, especially in our homes
1. Avoids storing of inflammable materials at homes; material that are capable of catching fires/exploding
2. Avoids burning of waste/bushes indiscriminately; open burning of waste can cause a fire if care is not taken.
3. Avoids leaving your cooking unattended; watch what you heat and never overheat cooking oils by preventing residencial fire.
4. Keep gas cylinders outdoors; proper storage of the gas cylinder in our various home is paramount and the cylinder should be placed in a well- ventilated location and not exposed directly to the sun or other heat sources, and never besides electrical socket or flammable substance.
5. Disposing of Smoking Materials Properly; do not extinguish cigarettes in landscaping or potted plants. Potting soil is an organic material, and it has the potential to ignite.
6. Avoids tossing of smoking materials out on the roadway or into landscaping and this can leads to the widespreads of fires.
Finally, it’s key to note that, we should always keep doorways, corridors and exit paths clear and unobstructed; these is another preventive measures to averts/ possible ways of reducing the danger of fire outbreaks. And, we should always conscious and stay save…
We Beseech for Allah’s devine protection against all sorts of dangers and incidents. Also, prays for His infinity mercy, comfort and blessings against this current economic hardship ravaging us and our people across.
Ààmin.
End.
Com. Hassan Taiye Erubu ,
General Secretary, Balogun Fulani Constituency Youth Development Association.
21st December, 2024.