Communities urged to prevent fires

Residents have been urged to continue to be safe and prevent fire incidents as the winter chill slowly kicks in.

This follows words of gratitude from Joburg Emergency Management Services (JEMS) spokesperson, Robert Mulaudzi, who thanked all residents for ensuring that no incidents related to cold and wet weather conditions were reported during the past weekend.

Mulaudzi said residents are encouraged to continue looking after any heating devices, and not to leave them unattended to prevent fire incidents at home.

He also shared the city’s vision of increasing awareness about winter safety campaigns. “With the winter season slowly approaching us we will be intensifying our Pre-winter Fire Safety Campaigns throughout the City of Johannesburg through our Public Education section (Pier), a section within the organisation responsible for public education. We will be educating our communities with life and fire safety educational programmes with the aim of not only reducing the number of fire incidents and fatalities this winter season, but also to introduce a culture of fire safety within our communities,” Mulaudzi explained.

Here are some of the safety tips provided by the City:

Candle safety tips

· Keep candles away from children.

· A child should not be left unattended in a room with a candle.

· Store candles, matches and lighters out of the reach of children.

· Candles should not be used to light stoves.

· Candles should not be used in a confined space.

Braizers/ Imbaula/ Container Fires

· Use it in a well-ventilated area to avoid carbon monoxide inhalation, and before you go to bed, take it outside.

Paraffin

· Put your paraffin stove on a flat surface where it can’t fall or get knocked over.

· Use safe containers to store paraffin e.g. safety cap bottles.

Before you go to bed or out

· Never go to bed or out while a candle or paraffin lamp is still burning.

· Switch off heaters and stoves at the plug before going to bed or out.

· Always put out cigarettes carefully, and do not smoke in bed

For any life-threatening emergencies, call 10177 from fixed lines, 112 from cellphones or the City of Johannesburg Emergency Call Centre on 011 375 5911.

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