MMC for Public Safety in the City of Johannesburg, Sello Lemao launched the Winter Safety Campaign.
Part of the launch was the distribution of the Jozi Safety Kit, which is a 25 litre bucket which is to be used to store water to curb fire.
He said that fire incidences especially in informal settlements are on the rise in winter.
Lemao said that winter fires are caused by:
- Unregulated heating and lighting appliances according to National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS).
- Candles that are not placed on proper candle safety jars to prevent them from falling.
- Using of open fire for cooking within confined spaces. Also uses of imbaulas or braizers which can also result in death when people inhale toxic smoke.
- Illegal connection of electricity where children are at risk of electrocution.
- Most recent causes which have been identified to occur as a result of love triangles where couples use fire to fight each other because of love relationships gone wrong.
“Over the last number of years the department through EMS has introduced a number of interventions to reduce fire incidences within our 180 informal settlements and relevant areas in the City.
“Among others it is during this time of the year that we intensify our community outreach programmes, have implemented training of community emergency response teams across the seven regions as well as issuing out Jozi safety kits to about 1200 households which has contributed to a 42% reduction in those areas,” he said.
The MMC also said there will be eight smoke detectors that will be distributed to eight old age homes and a further 240 of these smoke detectors distributed to other old age homes within the City in the objective to bolster those which comply while bringing none complying ones up to acceptable compliance standards.
“With these concerted efforts currently underway. I would like to take this opportunity to applaud those who have made it their responsibility to comply in their homes and workplaces so as to stay ready to deal effectively with fire incidences,” he said.
