A number of fire occurrences around the country once again highlight the vulnerability of important public institutions and places to the perennial onslaught of fire brought about largely through official lack of preparedness.

Between October 25 and November 4,2008 fire outbreaks have occurred at the Kaduna Central Market, the Abubakar Rimi market, the Kennedy Library at the Kongo campus of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria as well as Gashua market in Yobe. Similar outbreaks have been reported elsewhere around the country.

At the Abubakar Rimi market goods lost were worth some N10 billion and at the Kennedy Library, ABU Zaria valuable books were lost. Fire at the latter, ensued when routine maintenance work was being carried out on the roof of the library. Any fire incidence is to be regretted but a burnt library is a calamity because it is like a civilization wiped out. In these days when the universities are unable to keep up with updating their store of books due to paucity of funds losing the few ones available, even if out dated, is still a huge set back. Indeed it is strange that a maintenance work at the library could be undertaken without any precautionary measure taken to forestall the sort of eventuality that ensued.

The harmattan has set in and its characteristic dryness is capable of reducing anything to cinder at the touch of a match. This being so, it is expected that especial care needs to be taken by institutions and public places which are repositories of valuable but flammable goods and other property. Markets across the country are particularly vulnerable because against instructions traders and stall owners routinely cook at the same place where they peddle their goods and this has given rise to fire occurrences in many of these markets. Moreover, electrical appliances which were not switched off at closing time have also been blamed for causing fire outbreaks.

As perennial as fire disasters have become many institutions are still unable to take the incidents seriously. Many do not have departments charged with sensitizing and educating people on the hazards of fire at the work place. Those that have hardly take the trouble to do the drills, such as periodically checking whether the fire extinguishers are working properly and can be handled by the staff. Usually it is during fire outbreaks that it will dawn on everyone that the extinguishers are expired therefore useless when they need them most. Lack of preparedness is even more pronounced with our fire fighting departments which blame their inability to be of any assistance at disaster periods on a litany of reasons including being saddled with unserviceable fire- fighting vehicles and lack of water. In many instances, public spirited citizens have had to battle such infernoes as best they can through improvisations with sand, soap in water etc.

There is therefore the need for the federal and state governments to improve on their preparedness to combat disasters like fire outbreaks. Fire departments should be accorded the seriousness they deserve by furnishing them with the needed equipment and other wherewithal to do their work effectively and properly. They should be funded well to enable them impart fire safety measures to government institutions and other work places. No one need be told that simple fire fighting techniques and other safety measures well disseminated could mean saving many lives in time of fire outbreaks. Cuba is prone to tornadoes and hurricanes but records fewer deaths due to these calamities than other Carribean countries and indeed the United States of America because of adequate dissemination of safety measures. The losses suffered in the fires so far while regrettable should serve as a warning for all to prepare adequately in order to avoid the fire next time.