Fire killed 24 Gombe residents in nine months –Agency

No fewer than 24 persons lost their lives and property valued at N105m destroyed in fire incidents in Gombe State between January and September, 2013. The Director of the State Fire Service, Mr Ishaku Maidoki, made the disclosure to the News Agency of Nigeria in Gombe on Monday. Maidoki said the department saved 700 lives and property worth N5.2m from the fire disasters, adding that the service received 144 emergency calls during the period. He stressed the need to sustain the cooperation between the service and the public, while reiterating the determination of the service to save lives and property in the state. He also charged the citizens to ensure that all electrical appliances in their homes and business areas were always switched off when not in use. The director said women, who use firewood for cooking, should ensure that the fire was properly put out after cooking to avert fire disasters. He commended the state government for the provision of water in the directorate and other public places.