he Rivers State Fire Service has been accused of failing to live up to its responsibilities in the state.
The criticism follows Tuesday’s fire outbreak at the Heritage Filling Station along Iwofe road in Rumuorlumeni community, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area (LGA), Rivers State.
Information gathered revealed that the fire broke out at the filling station when a tanker dispensing fuel at the station went up in flames at about 6:00am today.
A youth leader in the community, Mr. Chukwudi Chindah told newsmen at the scene that the state fire service were alerted via numerous phone calls when the incident occurred but arrived when youths and other residents of the area had already succeeded in fighting the inferno.
He blasted the authority of the fire service for their delayed in responding to the distress calls.
Mr. Chindah, however, applauded the resilience of youths and residents of the area in fighting inferno at Heritage Filling Station.
According to him, “It took efforts and timely intervention of youths and other residents of Rumuolumeni to quell the fire and avert what would have resulted to total disaster.
“Though part of the filling station was burnt, but the entire station would have been razed completely and even put the lives and properties of residents living around at risk, of not for the people living around”.
