Heater warning
DIEPSLOOT – DA councillor reminds residents about fire safety as winter sets in.
The cold winter is upon us, and June heralds the dawning of the biting icy season which compels people to warm their homes with different kinds of energy sources.
The majority of informal settlement dwellers resort to the use of coal or paraffin to heat their homes. Fatal burnings of shacks are common occurrences when adults accidentally fall asleep leaving coal or paraffin heaters unattended.
Refilwe Mathebula, DA councillor in Diepsloot – where cases of horrific deaths through fires – has warned residents of the populous township to be cautious.
“It’s winter season, people should be extra careful and cautious when using paraffin or coal heaters. We have lost many lives during this season due to careless mistakes and, please, we can’t afford any more losses,” said Mathebula.
Read: The do’s and don’ts of treating burns
She told Fourways Review that she has attended funerals almost every weekend in previous winters from deaths caused by fire.
She warned residents to desist from the habit of leaving burning heaters unattended or manned by children. “Let’s survive winter without burns, damages and deaths.”
Mathebula recently assisted an indigent Diepsloot family in burying Beatrice Mhlongo who perished in an inferno when her shack caught fire.
The councillor added that victims usually get burnt when they fall asleep and drop blankets on top of their burning heaters. “So we are appealing to residents to switch-off heaters before going to bed,” she said.
Read: Diepsloot woman perishes in fire
The DA leader also appealed to parents to never leave unsupervised children with heaters on. Regarding the use of candles, the Mathebula urged residents not to leave a candle burning out of sight or when they are asleep.
“Candles must be smothered before leaving a room or going to sleep. People using candles should always use the right candle holder, must keep burning candles away from drapes, curtains, bedding, carpets, paper, or other decorations.”
Mathebula said paraffin stoves should be placed on a flat, solid surface that cannot be knocked over or bumped. She also advised people to always have a bucket of sand nearby when using a paraffin stove.
Read more:
Appeal for public assistance to bury Diepsloot fire victim
Faulty geysers cause a flood of problems in winter
Douglasdale police on the lookout for hijacking suspects
