By Juliana Nwachukwu
The Anambra State Fire Service has commended the Executive Mayor of Onitsha South Local Government Area, Chief Emeka Orji, for providing and equipping a fire truck for emergency response operations in the council area.
Assistant Fire Superintendent, ASF Chukwudi Osita Nzekwe, Commander, Anambra State Fire Service, Main Market Section, who is also attached to the Onitsha South Local Government Fire Service, disclosed this while speaking on the response to a fallen fuel tanker in Onitsha on Sept. 10.
According to Nzekwe, the fire truck, which was provided by Mayor Orji about two months ago, was deployed for its first major emergency operation following a distress call from the Mayor at about 9:45 a.m. concerning a tanker that had fallen around the MCC area of Onitsha.
He said firefighters immediately mobilised to the scene and, on arrival, discovered that the tanker had not caught fire. The team quickly commenced emergency control and salvage operations to prevent a possible fire outbreak, particularly in view of the highly volatile nature of the tanker’s contents and the harsh weather conditions.
Nzekwe said firefighters from the Ogidi Fire Station also joined the operation, stressing that fire prevention and emergency response require teamwork. “A specialised chemical was applied to the tanker as part of the safety measures, while efforts were made to stabilise the scene and prevent ignition”.
He disclosed that the tanker was subsequently transloaded into another tanker, adding that the operation was successfully completed without any loss of life or injury.
The Fire Service commander attributed the incident, based on preliminary assessment, to a bad portion of the road. He said personnel immediately commenced salvage and withdrawal operations to secure the area and facilitate the safe clearance of the roadway.
Nzekwe praised Mayor Orji for the initiative, urging other local government mayors in Anambra State to emulate him by providing fire trucks, standard fire stations and adequate equipment to strengthen emergency response across their respective councils.
He also advised members of the public to always switch off electrical appliances before leaving their homes for business or other activities and to immediately contact the Fire Service whenever they notice a fire outbreak instead of assuming that someone else would make the call.
The commander further advised residents living in flats and other residential buildings to keep functional fire extinguishers for first-aid firefighting, while stressing that the Fire Service should be contacted whenever a fire becomes difficult to control.
He appealed to members of the public to always keep the Fire Service emergency number handy, noting that prompt reporting could make the difference between a minor incident and a major disaster.
Juliana Nwachukwu is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
#Ministryofinformationandvaluareformation
#Anambraisrising
#Informationiskey
#Solutionishere
#Solutioncontinues
