The senator believes that doing so would allow every county and major city to fight fire outbreak on their own.
Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon has reaffirmed his continuous commitment to work with colleagues to champion laws and budgetary allocations that will empower the national fire service.
Dillon’s statement was contained in his keynote address delivered on Monday, May 5, 2025, at programs marking this year’s International Firefighters’ Day in Monrovia.
He said the Senate will advocate for firefighting units to every county and major city, developing risk-reduction strategies, and enforcing regulations on building safety and flammable materials storage like petroleum product.
He further underscored the importance of Fire safety, which the senator said, “must become a national priority.”
He added: “Government cannot continue to treat fire incidents as occasional disasters.”
The program was held on the theme: “Ensure Fire Safety; Contribute Toward Nation Building.”
On the theme, Dillon said, is both timely and deeply significant, “because it reminds us that fire safety is not merely a technical or emergency concern, but a national development issue.”
“Fire safety,” the Senator said, “affects our homes, schools, markets, hospitals, workplaces, and ultimately, the economic and social health of our beloved country.”
Senator Dillon spoke of the prevention, which he said, “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.
“Nation building requires safe spaces. Imagine a Liberia where our homes are protected from repeated fire outbreaks; where our fire service is equipped and respected. Such a nation is not only safer, but stronger, productive and united.”
He rallied citizens to see themselves as partners to the government in the fight for fire safety not only by purchasing fire extinguishers for their homes and workplaces, and learning the basic preventing drills, but by reporting hazards to obey preventive measures.
Dillon added: “We all have a role to play – a safer country is not the job of a few; it is the responsibility of all Liberians.”
He continues: “As 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 the 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 country. 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.”
Dillon, meanwhile, said the 2025 International Firefighters’ Day should not just be ceremonial, but a transformational and ignite in every part of the country the fire of patriotism, vigilance, and collective action.
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