Fire disasters: Gombe ‘ll invest more resources to safe lives, property – Gov Yahaya

Gombe state governor, Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya, has pledged his administration’s commitment to safeguard lives and property of citizens by investing more resources to combat fire outbreaks in the state.

Governor Yahaya said he was ready to double efforts to assist the federal fire Service and state fire service to ensure safety of lives and property.

Speaking Tuesday during the commissioning of one modern fire-fighting truck in Gombe state, the governor assured the federal government that the newly deployed state of the art firefighting trucks would be adequately maintained.

“We can not avoid fire because some might come as human error so we shall double efforts to make sure people are protected. A lot of properties and lives are lost in fire disaster but when efforts are made just to provide good attention in case of those incidents, then we will help to safe finances.

“We are making a lot of efforts to open up areas with little road access to aid firefighting. We shall look for a good location for the fire service to operate from within the city centre. We shall get allocation at the heart of the city centre,” he assured.

The governor acknowledged that the state fire service was in need of more firefighters hence the need for recruitment of more men.

“We are really in need of human resources and the service will be put into consideration,” he said.

Yahaya, however, said there would be more demands by the state government to the Federal Fire Service (FFS) to ensure that the state attends to fire incidents efficiently.

Earlier in his remarks, FFS Controller General, Dr Ibrahim Liman, urged the state government to ensure the allocation of two utility vehicles to the fire service.

According to him, the allocation would enable FFS officers complement state fire service in the area of fire risk assessment in public and private premises.

“the other one will be converted to Rapid Intervention Vehicle with complementary equipment and gadgets for quick response in the event of emergencies,” he said.
Liman requested for “Sponsorship of state fire service personnel in local and foreign trainings in view of emerging firefighting trends.
“Inclusion of the FFS in the State Security Council and strengthening of the state fire service through recruitment of capable hands.

“Welfare enhancement package for fire personnel to the paramilitary salary structure.”