Montserrado County Senator, Abraham Darius Dillon, has reaffirmed his continued commitment to working with colleagues in the Senate to champion laws and budgetary allocations that empower the national fire service.
Delivering the keynote address Monday at programs marking the commemoration of International Firefightersβ Day in Monrovia, Senator Dillion asserted that the Senate will advocate for firefighting units to every county and major cities, developing risk-reduction strategies, and enforcing regulations on building safety and flammable material storage like petroleum product.
The Montserrado County Senator further emphasized that fire safety must become a national priority, as such government cannot continue to treat fire disasters as occasional disasters.
βTodayβs theme, βEnsure Fire Safety; Contribute Toward Nation Buildingβ, is both timely and deeply significant. It reminds us that fire safety is not merely a technical or emergency concern; it is a national development issue. Fire safety affects our homes, schools, markets, hospitals, workplaces, and ultimately the economic and social health of our beloved Liberia,β he reminded.
He emphasized that prevention must be institutionalized, and preparedness must be funded and professionalized, to include better training for firefighters, modern equipment, rapid response systems, and public education campaigns in schools, communities, places of worship and market places, among others.
βNation building requires safe spaces. Imagine a Liberia where our homes are protected from repeated fire outbreaks, and where our fire service is equipped and respected. Such a nation is not only safer; it is stronger, productive, and united,β Dillon intoned.
The keynote Speaker at the same time rallied citizens to see themselves as partners to the government in fight for fire safety, not only by purchasing fire extinguishers for their homes and workplaces and learning the basic preventing drills, but also by reporting hazards and obeying preventive measures. βWe all have a role to playβa safer Liberia is not the job of a few; it is the responsibility of all Liberians,β Dillon cautioned.
Senator Dillon continued, βAs we reflect today, let us also remember the firefighters we have lost in the line of duty. Their courage must inspire us, and their memory must guide us. Let us also celebrate those who still serve our great nation. To our firefighters, you are nation builders. Every life you save, every home you protect, every child you pull from the flames of fire, these are the bricks of a better Liberia. To the government and development partners, let us invest in fire safety, as we do in roads, schools, and hospitals, because if we lose these to fire we undermine our own development.β
In closing, the Montserrado County lawmaker underscored that the 2025 International Firefightersβ Day should not just be ceremonial; instead, it should be transformational and ignite in every Liberian the fire of patriotism, vigilance, and collective action.
