Firefighters from the Federal Fire Service, Taraba State Command, successfully neutralised a morning inferno at Agada A’tah Magami in the Jalingo metropolis on Monday, saving property valued at approximately ₦17 million.
The rapid response prevented the blaze from consuming a two-bedroom residential apartment and spreading to adjacent high-density buildings. The incident was reported to the command at approximately 8:30 am, prompting the immediate mobilisation of an emergency response team.
In a statement released by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Sylvanus Mikailu, the service confirmed that preliminary investigations linked the outbreak to an electrical surge within the residence. The affected property, owned by Mr. Usman Abdullahi, was being used strictly for residential purposes at the time of the spark.
“On arrival, the team conducted a rapid assessment of the situation before launching an aggressive fire suppression operation,” Mikailu stated. The operation was led by Saidu Kabiru, who coordinated the crew to contain the flames within the primary structure, effectively isolating the danger from neighbouring residents.
Despite the intensity of the smoke, no casualties or injuries were recorded among the occupants or the firefighting personnel. Witness Mu’azu Bako, who placed the initial distress call, credited the "swift intervention" of the service for preventing what could have been a much larger disaster in the neighbourhood.
The Acting State Controller, ACF Yakubu Samson Dungus, reiterated his call for residents to remain vigilant and adhere to fire safety protocols. He emphasised the importance of disconnecting electrical appliances when not in use and ensuring that residential buildings are equipped with basic fire-fighting tools.
The command also urged the public to utilise the national emergency line 112 or the state command’s direct line (07064454730) for immediate reporting. This successful intervention follows a similar rescue last week where the command saved millions in property during a farm fire at ATC, Jalingo, as the service continues to battle an uptick in dry-season outbreaks.