Aiyedatiwa tasks Fire Service, residents on joint fight against fire outbreaks

Ondo becomes Federal Fire Service zonal headquarters — State Controller

…‘76 incidents recorded

By Tolulope Eniola

Ondo State Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has called for stronger collaboration between the Federal Fire Service (FFS) and residents to prevent fire outbreaks and ensure effective response to emergencies.

Aiyedatiwa made the call on Monday when the State Controller of the FFS, DCF Moses Oyedepo, led officers and men of the service on a courtesy visit to the Governor’s Office in Akure.

The governor said fire prevention should not be left to firefighters alone, urging the service to intensify public enlightenment on the causes of fire outbreaks, preventive measures and appropriate responses during emergencies.

He also called for better public understanding of how to relate with firefighters at emergency scenes, stressing that residents should see them as partners working to save lives and property rather than as adversaries.

Aiyedatiwa said the public should understand that firefighters were not responsible for fire incidents, noting that the location from which they were responding could affect their arrival time.

The governor, however, urged firefighters to improve their disposition towards victims, saying people who had lost valuable property or loved ones might not be in the right frame of mind during emergencies.

He said the manner in which firefighters engaged with victims could help to calm agitated residents and prevent attacks on personnel.

Aiyedatiwa said the state government would sustain public awareness campaigns through the Office of the Deputy Governor and relevant emergency agencies responsible for flooding, fire incidents and other emergencies.

He commended the FFS for its nationwide contribution to saving lives and property, describing firefighting as a risky service requiring bravery and tenacity.

The governor recalled that the FFS donated two firefighting trucks to the state about three years ago, while the state government subsequently procured eight trucks.

He assured the service and other federal agencies operating in the state of continued support within available resources.

Aiyedatiwa also confirmed the provision of a Hilux vehicle to the FFS to support operations, particularly in areas inaccessible to fire trucks.

He said the government would consider the service’s request for accommodation and expansion, directing the Commissioner for Infrastructure, Lands and Housing to examine land allocated to the FFS by his predecessor, the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, and facilitate the necessary documentation.

Earlier, Oyedepo disclosed that 76 fire incidents had been recorded in Ondo State from January 2025 to the period under review.

He said 23 of the incidents were caused by faulty electrical equipment, 13 by power surges, eight by gas explosions and 12 by improperly installed solar system panels.

The remaining 16 incidents, he said, were attributed to accidents, carelessness and other unspecified causes.

Oyedepo also expressed concern over attacks on firefighters by angry mobs, saying delayed arrival at fire scenes was often misconstrued as negligence.

He explained that firefighters had to manoeuvre through traffic and other road users before reaching emergency scenes, stressing that no firefighter would deliberately delay response.

He called for increased public enlightenment and collaboration with security agencies to curb attacks on firefighters, although he noted that such incidents were not prevalent in Ondo State.

The State Controller disclosed that Ondo State had recently become the zonal headquarters of the FFS zone comprising Ondo and Ekiti states, with the headquarters previously located in Ekiti.

He said the FFS headquarters had approved the construction of the zonal and state complexes in the 2026 budget.

According to him, land allocated by the late Akeredolu for a permanent fire station for Zone F was located around the INEC office, appealing to Aiyedatiwa to assist in perfecting its documentation ahead of the release of funds and commencement of construction.

Oyedepo also sought assistance with accommodation for the state and zonal controllers and the restoration of supplementary fuelling support for the service’s plants, which he said had stopped since the end of last year.

He further requested additional operational vehicles that could be converted into rapid-response units capable of carrying between 1,000 and 2,000 litres of water and foam compound.

He said deploying such vehicles to various local government catchment areas would enable the service to respond quickly to fire incidents in locations where conventional fire trucks were not stationed.

Oyedepo conveyed the greetings of the Controller-General of the FFS, Dr Abdulganiyu Salami, and commended Aiyedatiwa’s leadership and developmental projects across the state.

He pledged the service’s continued commitment to supporting the government’s safety and security programmes and protecting lives and property in Ondo State.

In attendance were the Deputy Governor, Dr Olayide Adelami; Secretary to the State Government, Dr Taiwo Fasoranti; Chief of Staff, Prince Segun Omojuwa; and Permanent Secretary, SUBEB, Princess Abike Ilawole.