Foundation takes fire safety awareness to barracks, environs

As part of its barracks development initiative, Ex-Signal Barracks Mile-2 Children Foundation (ESBMCF) organised a fire safety training for the soldiers and traders in the barracks and their environs to create awareness and response knowledge on fire prevention strategies and firefighting tactics.

The programme kicked off with the first phase on 10^th September at Signal Operations Command, Mile 2 Signal Barracks, Lagos. It targets to train 450 persons – 50 soldiers, and 400 traders and other civilians.

The programme was facilitated by three fire safety professionals and a fire safety veteran, which enabled active participation and interactive sessions. The participants received training on how to recognise different fire hazards, prevention and causes of fire, efficient and confident response to fire outbreak emergencies, as well as practical sessions on the use of various fire extinguishers, blackest and other fire fighting agents.

Commander of Signal Operations Command, Col. B. C. Ogbonna, who attended the programme together with his wife and other senior Army officers , commended ESBMCF for bringing the training and awareness programme to the barracks.

He emphasised the importance of the impact of the training and advised that all shops in the barrack’s Mammy Market should have fire extinguishers installed on or before 10^th October.

ESBMCF President, Simon Okwori said the foundation was born out of the need to give back to the barracks, which nurtured members’ growth from childhood to adulthood. “This is just one of the many programmes we are working on to impact the lives of people living in Signals Barracks and its environs”, he said, while noting that the ESBMCF looks forward to partnering with corporate organisations and individuals who would buy into its vision.

The foundation was founded  about a year ago, and it had organised free Easter party and funfair for 1,000 children living in the barracks in 2022. The second and third phases of the fire safety awareness programme is to hold on 17^th and 24^th September at the same venue.