The festive season should be a time of joy, but it is often marred by fire-related tragedies, says the provincial government, which is calling on residents of informal settlements to take extra care to prevent fires.
Open-flame sources and overloaded illegal electrical connections are frequently to blame for fires in informal settlements, says Infrastructure MEC Tertius Simmers.
“Residents can assist to prevent these unfortunate incidents by being prepared, vigilant and practising safety measures. Some preparation is always better than dealing with a crisis, particularly during this time of the year.”
Residents of informal settlements should build their homes at least three metres apart to prevent fires from spreading rapidly and they should have a “grab bag”, with important documents, medicines and valuables, at the ready in case of an emergency, he said.
There are several other safety tips that can help:
• Keep all stoves on a stable surface.
• Keep candles in candle holders or cut them in half to prevent them from falling over.
• Discard cigarettes in a safe container and ensure they are completely put out.
• Keep a bucket with water handy to extinguish small fires when they start.
• Keep a bucket of sand nearby when using a paraffin appliance. Water will not put out a paraffin fire, which can only be extinguished using sand or a fire extinguisher.
• All open fires must be extinguished before you leave the area or go to sleep.
Ensure that there is enough ventilation when cooking food inside your dwelling.
• If your clothing catches fire, stop, drop to the ground, cover your face with your hands and roll around on the floor to smother the flames.
• If another person catches fire, smother the flames by wrapping them in a blanket, mat or carpet.
• Never lock your door from the inside using a padlock; instead use a shooting bolt for easy unlocking should a fire occur.
• Keep roads and the access to informal areas clear at all times so that emergency vehicles can move around easily.
• Keep emergency numbers saved on your phone or printed out for easy access. These include the numbers for your nearest police station, fire station, and ambulance service. In case of an emergency, call 112 from a cellphone. Call the City’s general emergency hotline at 107 from a cellphone or 021 480 7700 from a landline. Call 10111 for the SAPS Flying Squad or 10177 for an ambulance.
Nathan Adriaanse, a spokesman for the provincial Department of Human Settlements, said it is important to comply with instructions from firefighters, police, or municipal officials responding to an emergency during or following a fire.
“Officials are there to prevent the destruction of property and to save lives. Community cooperation is vital during an emergency.”
