By Akinnodi Francis, Ondo

Residents of Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo State have appealed to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to provide a functional fire service in the community.

In separate interviews with The Hope Newspaper, they urged the state government to revive the comatose Ondo Fire Service to enable it to respond swiftly and reduce the damage caused by such incidents.

A resident, Adebola Fadayomi, said recent fire incidents in Ondo city call for serious concern, appealing to relevant stakeholders, especially the government, to provide the community with a functional fire service.

“Ondo city deserves a functional fire service. When you need their services and you put a call through, they will tell you there’s no water or fuel. For how long will we continue to lose lives and properties to fire incidents?

“So, we appeal to governments at all levels to look into this and act fast to help reduce the incidents in Ondo and the state in general,” she said.

Also, a resident, Henry Akinola, said, “To ensure a functional fire service in Ondo, several actions are needed, including strengthening existing structures like the Federal Fire Service (FFS) and its regional branches, and enhancing staffing and training for firefighters.

“Providing adequate equipment and resources, and implementing robust fire safety regulations and awareness programs are also crucial.”

He urged the government to strengthen the branches of the fire service in the state to ensure a rapid and effective response to fire incidents.

“A sufficient number of well-equipped fire stations should be strategically located across Ondo to ensure quick response times to fire emergencies.

“Reliable communication systems within the fire service and between the service and other emergency response agencies are crucial for coordination and effective response,” he added.

They said recruiting qualified individuals and providing them with comprehensive training—including fire suppression, rescue, and emergency medical response—is essential.

“It is also crucial to maintain sufficient firefighting personnel to respond to multiple incidents simultaneously.”

They explained that the government should strictly enforce fire safety codes in buildings and construction projects to prevent fires and ensure safe evacuation routes.