During winter period, emergency services receive an increase in the number of fire incidents through the emergency call centre.
Most of the fires are caused by heating and lighting appliances such as heaters, Imbaula, candles and paraffin stove.
It is for this reason the City of Johannesburg Emergency Management Services will embark on door to door campaigns during winter.
They will educate communities about fire safety and this year will be targeting all 189 informal settlements throughout the city.
This is part of The Jozi Safety Kit, an initiative which was introduced almost 8 years ago to reduce the number of fire incidents and fatalities during winter period.
“We have already started with our pre winter safety campaign in Kliptown informal settlement last month. This campaign will continue throughout winter, we hope we will be able to reduce the number of fire incidents and fatalities,” said EMS spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi.
During winter season of 2014 about 400 fire incidents were reported in our emergency call centre from both informal and formal residential areas with about 103 fatalities reported.
During winter season of 2015 about 600 fire incidents were reported in our emergency call centre from both informal and formal residential areas with about 32 fatalities reported.
The Jozi Safety Kit consists of the following items:
-A Para-Safe stove (which extinguishes itself in the event of excessive movement
– Paraffin container with a safety cap
-A Smoke detector which serves as an early warning system
– A Burn kit to treat minor burns
– A latern light
– A 25 litre bucket which can be used to store water, can be used as an extinguishing agent
The fire safety education continues on daily basis from our BESAFE Centres which can be found in all our 7 regions of the city Region A- Ivory Park Fire Station
B-Randburg Fire Station
C-Florida Park Fire Station
D-Jabulani Fire Station
D-Dube vocational centre
E-Alexandra Fire Station
F-Berea Fire Station
F-Turfontein Fire Station
G-Eldorado Park Fire Station
G-Orange Farm Fire Station
Community members can visit them daily from 8pm to 4pm, for more information call the BESAFE Centre in Florida Park Fire Station 011 758-5050.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at roodepoortrecord@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.
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