March 29, 2021
By:Ilyass Baa
Statistics from the Fire Prevention Unit at the National Fire Force shows that Freetown accounts for fifty- eight percent of fire cases since the year started.
The Unit has revealed that nationally, about 240 cases were recorded out of which 127 case took place in the Capital city.
Director of the Fire Prevention Unit, Abdulai Gassama Bockarie overloading of meters, habit of cooking at verandah are largely responsible for the high spate of fire accidents especially in Freetown.
He recounted that from their investigation into the Personage Street fire case which took place in February, it came out clearly that twenty-six apartments were using a single meter for EDSA light.
He said this practice is common in slum communities including Susan’s Bay where hundreds are displaced due to Wednesday’s inferno.
He assured that the Unit would continue to collaborate with the Disaster Management Committees deployed in disaster prone ccommunities to prevent future disaster.
He deplored the services of quack Electricians blaming them for partly contributing to the problem. He expressed the need for people to desist from using substandard extensions and leaving electrical appliances unattended.
The Fire Force is equipped with a total of nineteen fire engines with ten stations and a host of hydrants in the country.
In a bid to prevent her people, the government recently commissioned the Kailahun Fire Station and the one for Kabala is under construction.