Keep your shack safe from fire
Most fires are caused by lack of thought, concentration or carelessness
With the extreme cold weather of the past few days, Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Services warn dwellers of informal settlements about the devastating effects of a fire.
The close proximity of shacks makes it difficult for emergency services to enter the settlement should a fire break out.
“Three-metre spacing between shacks should be adhered to. If not, the entire informal settlement is subjected to a catastrophic end,” said William Ntladi, spokesperson for Ekurhuleni Emergency Services.
Most fires, he says, are caused by lack of thought, concentration or carelessness.
Cigarettes, lighters, matches, candles, illegal electrical connections and over loading of circuits, heating appliances such as paraffin stoves, braziers and equipment such as power generators, liquified gas appliances – all can be lethal if not properly monitored.
Here are some safety tips to prevent shack fires.
The do and don’ts:
1. Keep a close eye on paraffin stoves. Don’t cook near a window with curtains.
2. Make sure the stove does not fall over, which may cause a fire and burn children.
3. Make sure candles cannot fall over. Don’t go to sleep with candles still burning.
4. Never ever put braziers or coal braai stands inside your home. If so, keep the door and windows open to avert carbon monoxide poisoning.
5. Keep combustibles at least a meter away from the heat source.
6. Smoking in bed is dangerous.
7. Watch out for discarded cigarette butts.
8. Be aware of the dangers of illegal and faulty electricity connections, which also cause fires.
9. Refill the electrical power generator, paraffin stove or lamps while still cold before use.
10. Keep separate buckets handy filled with water and sand, so you can extinguish different flames easily.
11. Call the emergency services firefighters as soon as possible on 011 458 0911, 10177 or 112.
In case your clothes catch fire, do not run, stop, drop and roll. Instinct will drive one to run but unfortunately, the more you run, the more the flames are aggravated.
In case of someone suffering burns, cover him with a blanket. This will extinguish the flames.
