By Akpan David, Calabar
The Cross River State Fire Service has urged the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star (BCS) to sustain fire prevention measures and extend safety awareness to neighbouring communities.
The call was made when a four-man team from the Fire Service inspected fire-safety facilities and emergency preparedness arrangements at the BCS World Headquarters on Ambo Street, Calabar.
The inspection was led by Officer Kekong D.A., alongside B.E. Ukorebi, Ferdinand Mgbe and Nyomo Ibitham.
The visit came against the backdrop of recent fire incidents in Calabar and other parts of Cross River State, including the fire outbreak at the SPAR shopping complex.
During the inspection, the team assessed firefighting equipment and emergency-response arrangements at key facilities within the BCS headquarters.
The facilities inspected included the organisation’s solar energy facility, Safety Unit office and other departments.
The Fire Service team was received by the Head of the BCS Safety Unit, Archbishop Ifiokabasi Udo, alongside safety personnel, fire wardens and members of the security team.
Udo told the team that the Safety Unit was established to strengthen fire prevention and emergency preparedness across the organisation.
He said the unit had deployed firefighting equipment, designated fire wardens and organised safety training, emergency drills, muster exercises and awareness programmes.
The Fire Service commended the organisation for establishing the Safety Unit and providing firefighting equipment across its facilities.
Kekong also urged the organisation to sustain regular fire-safety inspections and training to ensure that personnel and equipment remained ready for emergencies.
The team advised BCS to conduct regular emergency-response and evacuation drills to ensure that workers and other occupants understood their roles during fire incidents.
It also called for stronger collaboration between the BCS Safety Unit and the Fire Service in fire prevention, emergency response and safety education.
The Fire Service further urged BCS to extend its fire-safety sensitisation to surrounding communities, noting that public awareness could help reduce the impact of fire incidents.
It stressed the need for firefighting equipment to be properly maintained, accessible and ready for use, while urging the organisation to make fire prevention and emergency preparedness a continuous responsibility.
