People who attended the Domestic Watch meeting at Fontainebleau Community Church on 22 July received useful tips on fires, including how to survive one.
“We’ve had a number of people die this year in areas that were historically fire-free,” said Chris Viviers, community education officer for the Randburg Fire Station.
Viviers explained that most fires occur in homes at night, the most dangerous part of a fire is the smoke because it makes it difficult to breathe or can contain poisonous gases, and he recommended that people place smoke alarms on their ceilings.
Viviers then demonstrated how to survive a fire in your house that cannot be put out.
“The first thing you do when there is a fire is – wake everybody up. Then you get out of the house by crawling next to the wall.”
He explained that you should feel along the wall with the back of your hands, and feel the doors.
If a door is hot there is fire behind it, if cold there is no fire behind the door and it safe to open.
The keys to the house should always be kept in the same location so that you can always find them, even when visibility is limited.
Everyone must then gather outside the house and phone the fire department on 112 (from a cellphone) or 10 177 (from a landline) as soon as possible.
While on the phone, you must give your address and the names of major streets that cross your street.
“Make sure the number of your house is big and on the front gate,” he said.
“If we can’t find you, we can’t help you.”
He then discussed the four types of fires.
A class A fire is a solid fuel fire (for example wood or paper), and can be put out best with water but also with sand.
A class B fire is a flammable liquid or flammable gas fire (for example cooking oil or petrol), and is put out with a wet blanket or sand.
A class C fire is an electrical fire caused by electrical problems.
Once the main electricity switch is turned off, these fires can be put out with “anything” Viviers said.
A class D fire is a metal fire, such as in a vehicle, and water could cause an explosion. Sand must be used instead.
Details: Domestic Watch co-organiser Annie Conway 082 445 6174; annie@solute.co.za
