Pilot project of smoke detectors to start in Makause informal settlement
"Smoke detectors timeously alert unsuspecting households of fires in their dwellings."
The City of Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) will run a pilot project to install smoke detectors in Makause informal settlement.
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The aim is to minimise shack fire damage through early detection because South Africa experiences more than 5 000 shack fires a year, according to the Fire Protection Association of Southern Africa (FPASA).
DEMS media liaison officer, William Ntladi, said that 900 smoke detectors will be installed in 900 households chosen by community leaders from February 14 to 17.
“Officials from the partnering organisations, Provincial Fire and Rescue Services, Santam, and community leaders will collectively install about 225 smoke detectors per day,’ said Ntladi.
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“Smoke detectors timeously alert unsuspecting households of fires in their dwellings. This is another strategy of saving lives in cases of fire,” said Ntladi.
