Fire outbreaks can be unpredictable, thus the need for the active response of the firefighters to control, save, and protect lives and properties. The common problem we have been having with this sector in Nigeria is late arrivals at the scene. Upon interviewing some of these professionals on TV after a controlled fire outbreak, you will hear all sorts of excuses, like it was a traffic jam that caused the delay, our vehicle broke down, the location of the scene is far from ours, and so on. Some of their reasons are government fault, but on the other hand, lots of funds are being allocated to this sector annually in order to function efficiently and effectively, but still, they aren't meeting the standard, and I wonder if the funds meant for their services are being diverted to something else.
Two years ago, after my younger sister's wedding, her husband's shop got burned. According to them, they finished selling for the day and turned off all electrical appliances, but unfortunately, there was a fire outbreak starting from their shop very early in the morning. A neighbor who first noticed the fire called them on phone immediately, and they rushed down to the shop. On getting there, the fire had already spread to the next shop, and the neighbors were trying their best to quench the fire using detergent and water,but there was some degree of fire that detergent and water could not totally quench. Someone remembered the service of the firefighters and called their number, and they promised to come. Ladies and gentlemen, these people arrived three hours after they were contacted.
You needed to see how the people in the neighborhood trying all means to put out the fire almost caused a scene with the firefighters for arriving very late to the scene according to my sister though. The worst part is that the water they came with wasn't even enough. What kind of incompetent is this? At the end of the day, everything inside my sister's husband's shop got totally burned into ashes. Nothing was recovered; it was so disheartening!
In the few fire incidents I have witnessed in Nigeria, no one around the scene ever bothered calling the firefighters, at least not immediately, because we all know how irresponsible and nonchalant they can be most of the time. Responding to emergencies takes them hours to arrive at the scene. By that time, properties and people must have been badly affected. Sometimes I wonder if most of them actually have the passion for this job, if they lack equipment, or if there are any other reasons I am unaware of. But then, I will be sincere in commending some heroes among them, despite their weaknesses. You will still see some of them who will make every effort to save lives and properties at the scene. Because of how firefighters operate in my country, many people have unprofessionally taken their position in an emergency. The first responders—the neighbors and passersby—who are kind enough are the heroes of our time in a fire emergency. People do not spare their detergents, water, and buckets to locally quench the fire and save lives.
Several fire incidents have been recorded this year here in Lagos State, Nigeria, resulting in the loss of lives and property, including people who sustained injuries. None of the fire outbreak scenes reported the early arrival of the firefighters, at least to curtail the spread of fire. I wish this sector could undergo some rehabilitation for the purposes of saving lives, preventing fire, and protecting properties, which are supposed to be their major duties in our country.
This post was inspired by the #inleo community and my entry to the #mayinleo monthly topic Day 4.Please check out the announcement post to get involved.
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