According to the Federal Fire Service, from January to October 26, fires in Cross River destroyed property worth more than N8 billion.
This was revealed by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar on Thursday by Mrs. Olumayowa Olomola, the Federal Fire Service’s commanding officer for the Calabar Command.
According to the commanding commander, 13 fire events documented during that time period resulted in destruction.
According to her, three people were hurt in the incidents, while one death was reported.
Giving an instance of the value of destroyed properties, she said, “A transformer at the TCN 33 KVA sub station line at Adiabo, Calabar, that was gutted by fire in August is put at a cost of N2.6 billion.
“We also had the fire incident at Marian fruits market that affected over 13 lock-up shops with goods and also the Airtel Mast near governor’s office.
“We also responded to two fire incidents at the University of Calabar; another one at a Catholic school, and one mobile base transformer,” she stated.
Olomola, who said that the command responded swiftly to the incidents, however, noted the challenges of the Service in Cross River.
She particularly noted the high price of diesel and lack of water tankers and ambulance on its stable as hindrance to their efficiency.
“Again, we have challenges of crowd invading the scene of fire incidents which in most times, denied us access.
” Most times, the aim of some persons in the crowd is to steal from the fire incident.
“We also have the problem of traffic and travel distance to scene of fire incidents,” she said.