Managing Director of Sagif Fire Preventive Company, Mr Sam Ayadi, at the weekend called for a more pragmatic approach from government and fire preventive experts in curtailing fire outbreaks in the country.

Ayadi, who is also the head of Sagif Training Consult, stated this during a fire security, health, environment and safety lecture he held for workers as well as members of the public at Golden Age Hotel, Wuse Zone 7, Abuja.

He said the economy of a nation can only be made viable when accidents, such as fire outbreaks are reduced, adding that it is necessary for every home and offices to have the right portable fire extinguishers as well as be trained on such equipment.

According to him, every home and office must have the phone numbers of the Federal Fire Service in order to contact them urgently during fire outbreaks.

Ayadi frowned at the way house numbers are allocated and called on owners of building to ensure that such numbers are clear for easy location and the street wide enough to accommodate fire trucks in emergency cases.

He complained of jam packed stores in Abuja markets and said traders in such places do not adhere to good safety practices in market areas.

He said traders are normally advised to ensure separation between ignition sources and those that are combustive in order not to spark fire. Ayadi also advised against the use of iron or steel doors in markets. He said such doors will not prevent fire from happening, saying that during fire incidents of about 500 degree centigrades, iron doors will crash and advocated for fire doors which have fire ratings.

Ayadi also called on the market management to work closely with fire preventive experts and officials of the federal fire service to carry out a fire hazard analysis by looking at what they are handling and put control measures, which will be reviewed from time to time.

"We as stakeholders will continue to go from door to door to preach the gospel of fire prevention by holding sensitization campaigns and partnering with the Federal Fire Service. We have also been running workshops and seminars to ensure that people are educated as well as well informed," he added.