National Fire Authority (NFA) is concerned on the number of structural fire causes in 2013.
NFA investigations have revealed that electrical fault, unattended cooking, candles/prayer diyas/mosquito coils left unattended and children playing with matches are the common causes of home fires in the last five months in 2013.
NFA CEO John O’Connor raised his concern on the structural fire causes which increased the structural fires in 2013 to forty-nine.
So far this year, there were twelve (12) electrical fires, three (3) unattended cooking structural fires and six (6) structural fire causes were lit candles, prayer diyas and mosquito coils.
Another major concerned for NFA is the fourteen (14) deliberately lit structural fires.
“These structural fire causes are the real concern for the NFA as most of these structural fires can be avoided if members of the community had taken a bit of extra care,” Mr O’Connor said.
“Majority of the structural fires like arson fires are the outcome of deliberate lit fires which are the outcome of possible family arguments.
“Our plea to all the members of the community is to refrain from starting fires as fire is the most dangerous disaster that is hard to stop when it starts,” Mr O’Connor said.
“People should never start fires with the intention to harm themselves because they are putting at risk the lives of their families and other members of their community and their properties,” Mr O’Connor said.
“Some arson fires have been caused by people -’messing about’ in the property. The fire may be started deliberately or carried out with the sole aim of destroying the property,” Mr O’Connor said.
He said fires caused by children playing with matches are results of negligence by parents and guardians of children.
“Small children when they are alone at home tend to play with matches for pleasure without a second thought of its consequences.
“These children are playing with matches when they are left unsupervised at home while parents are engaged in other household activities outside their house or attending meeting and so forth.
“Parents should ensure that an adult is supervising their children while they are at work or out for some time,” Mr O’Connor said.
“It is important that members of the community take fire safety seriously and discuss the fire safety with their family members, church or prayer meetings and during other community gatherings in the community so that everyone are well aware of fire safety and fire prevention measures at home,” Mr O’Connor said.
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