The Kwara State House of Assembly has called on residents to adopt necessary precautions to prevent fire outbreaks as the harmattan season sets in.

The House made the appeal through a Motion on Notice titled “Need to Create Awareness on Fire Outbreaks in Kwara” during its plenary session.

Sponsor of the motion, Bello Oniboki (APC/Afon), while leading the debate, said sensitising members of the public on fire outbreaks was imperative to avoid unnecessary loss of lives and property.

He noted that the weather conditions in the state were gradually changing to harsh, cloudy and dusty, signifying the coming of the harmattan period.

“People must take cognisance of the fact that a little mistake or act of negligence can cause a fire outbreak and any little spark can ignite fire.

“Investigations have revealed that fire outbreaks occur in most cases as a result of negligence, either from bush-burning, children playing with matches or forgetting to switch off electronic appliances and power surge,” Mr Oniboki said.

He pointed out that property worth millions of naira were destroyed by fire outbreaks between January 2023 and October 2024.

Other lawmakers who spoke on the motion commended Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq for turning round the fortunes of the Kwara Fire Service.

They said he did this by providing modern fire-fighting equipment, which have enhanced the agency’s capabilities of combating fire outbreaks in the state.

The House Speaker, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, while reading the resolutions on the motion, urged Mr AbdulRasaq to direct the ministry of works and transport to collaborate with the state fire service.

“This is necessary in order to intensify public education.

“They should conduct awareness programmes on fire safety practices and precautions across the state.”

The legislators also called for further decentralisation of the Fire Service by establishing more fire stations across the three Senatorial Districts.

They said this would be for more effective and efficient service delivery to all parts of the state.

“However, all residents of Kwara must take proper precautions, especially during this harmattan period, by keeping away from all that can spark and likely cause fire.

“This is in order to prevent or reduce loss of lives and property,” the lawmakers said.

(NAN)