Joburg Emergency Management Services partner with Alex residents to prevent shack fires
ALEXANDRA – Shack dwellers receive fire safety kits.
Happy recipients of the fire safety kits. Photo: Robert Mulaudzi
Alex’s shack dwellers, received protective equipment from the Joburg City Council’s Emergency Management Services (EMS) for safety against winter fires, which sometimes result in fatalities, injuries and loss of valuable property.
The fires are often caused by paraffin stoves, which fall over, heaters and lights connected illegally to power sources and braziers, which are left unprotected overnight to warm the shacks.
A recipient explains how the safety fire kits operate. Photo: Robert Mulaudzi
The beneficiaries are among residents of the 189 informal settlements throughout the City who received the Jozi Safety kits consisting of:
Parasafe stoves, which cut off the flame when there is excessive movement around
Burn kits to treat minor burns
Rechargeable solar lanterns for use as nightlights
Paraffin containers with safety caps to avoid children being poisoned by drinking paraffin stored in cold drink bottles thinking it’s juice
Smoke detectors for early warning against smoke and to encourage evacuation
Fire retard sprays, which work like fire extinguishers to put out minor fires
25-litre buckets to store water as an extinguishing agent.
Making the donation at the Alex Fire Station to 120 households. EMS’s Robert Mulaudzi said it was part of public education. “It’s, to build resilient communities, capable of dealing with any emergency which might occur in their areas before fire fighting crews arrive.” The beneficiaries also received prior training on basic fire fighting and first aid.
Happy recipients of the fire safety kits. Photo :Robert Mulaudzi
The handover was preceded by ones at Zandspruit, Moriting, Kliptown, Embuzini, Mlamlankunzi, Lusaka informal settlements, preceding ones to residents of Princess Maponya, Rose Acres, Denver, George Goch, Slovoville and Diepsloot Ext 1 informal settlements.
Details: Robert Mulaudzi 011 222 8288 083 319 9036
