On April 13 MMC for Community Safety Clr Vivienne Chauke launched a winter awareness campaign at Sethoga Park in Ward 100.
Chauke said the campaign will be rolled out in other neighbouring townships in the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE), where they will equip communities with safety tips for the winter season.
“In Ekurhuleni we have 119 informal settlements, that is why we are doing fire awareness. In Ekurhuleni we do not have many shack fires because we have a Community Emergency Response team consisting of 600 members.
“We take 10 people from each informal settlement and train them to be first responders when a fire occurs. Today we are informing community members on how to join hands in such situations when fire engines and firefighters are still on their way.
“Close to 1 000 adults and children attended and were happy to learn how to put out a fire. We are Batho Pele, doing things for the community. Eight councillors attended the event,” said Chauke.
Ekurhuleni Emergency Management Services spokesperson William Ntladi said the campaign will be run throughout winter to alert citizens of safety matters relating to fires.
“As a city, we have realised that during winter a lot of fires occur in informal settlements and backyard dwellings. One death as a result of fire is too many, we want to encourage people to be vigilant. During winter, people suffer from carbon inhalation because of brazier fumes.
“They sleep with burning braziers inside their houses, which emit deathly gases. Use braziers outside and do not keep them in the house overnight,” said Ntladi.
He also advised people to be careful when using paraffin lamps, stoves and petrol generators.
