The Kwara State House of Assembly has directed the state ministry of Information and Communications through its broadcast outfits to embark on sensitization and awareness campaign in all the 16 local governments on the necessary precautions to avert fire outbreak.

The directive was part of the resolutions of the House following the adoption of a motion without notice titled "Need for increased awareness on fire prevention and control", moved by Hon Ahmed Ibn Mohammed of Kaiama/Kemanje/Wajibe Constituency.

Mohammed noted that dry season usually served as veritable period for fire outbreak because it could occur naturally or as a result of human error or negligence.

He expressed concern that there had been reported cases of fire outbreaks across major cities and towns in the country where lives and property worth several millions of naira had been lost.

He recalled that the most recent were those of NTA International Abuja and Kotangora fire incident which claimed four lives as well as those of Kano, Jos and NITEL building in Lagos.

The lawmaker added that Kwara State was not spared in the spate of fire incidents as the case of Al-Hikmah University, Basin Area and Ministry of Energy with their attendant losses still fresh in the memories of Kwarans.

Some members who contributed to the debate, said the time for such a motion was not better than now because fire outbreak usually consume all that victims have.

The lawmakers however noted with displeasure that the law prohibiting bush burning was on ground but its implementation had not been effective.

The Deputy Speaker, Hon Mathew Okedare who presided over the plenary, urged the state government to establish more fire service stations and equip existing ones to promptly and effectively respond to fire outbreak in any part of the state.

The House also urged the state Emergency Management Agency to provide toll-free emergency lines through which cases of fire outbreak could be reported and promptly attended to.

While further pleading with the state government to enforce Bush Burning Law, 2006, the legislature equally mandated ministry of environment to be alive to its responsibility to forestall fire outbreaks.