NFA CONCERN

^{National Fire Authority (NFA) is concerned on the increasing number of structural and bush fire incidents in 2013.}

^{NFA CEO John O’Connor has raised NFA’s concern on the increasing number of structural and bush fire incidents.}

^{Mr O’Connor is again reminding members of the community to take fire safety seriously and to change their attitude towards fire safety.}

^{“It is sad that despite NFA’s continuous advice on fire safety, some people are not taking fire safety seriously.}

^{“We must all take fire safety seriously and discuss fire safety in our family, villages, settlements and communities,” Mr O’Connor said.}

^{The number of structural fire incidents so far this year stands at thirty-six (36) as compared to twenty-seven (27) last year from January to April.}

^{“Some of the structural and bush fire incidents this year occurred as a result of carelessness and deliberately lit fires which could have been avoided.}

^{“It is important for people to always check that all fire ignition sources in the house like stoves, lamps, mosquito coils, prayer diyas, candles are put out completely as a safety measure before leaving their home or going to bed to avoid the risk of fire incidents.}

 ^{“It is important that parents or adults be more responsible and ensure that children are not left unattended. They must be supervised by an adult at all times.}

^{“When leaving your home to visit your friends and families and even before going to bed please ensure all unattended fires are put out in your homes.}

^{“It is important for members of the community to be mindful of fire safety and ensure that proper measures are taken and we need your support to minimize the number of fire incidences”, Mr O’Connor said.}

“Bush and rubbish fires continues to be a major hindrance to NFA,” the NFA CEO said.

“So far this year, NFA has attended to more than ninety-one (91) bush and rubbish fires,”Mr O’Connor said.

“These bush and rubbish fires start when members of the community carelessly burn their rubbish and leave it unattended causing the fire to spread to the nearby bushes and farms. Other bush fires are intentionally started when members of the community want to clear areas for farming purposes.

“Bush and rubbish fires are a great risk to the nearby properties, settlements and villages and can be very devastating to the members of the community and the environment,” Mr O’Connor said.

Furthermore attending to such bush fire and rubbish fires results in unnecessary expenditure for NFA which compromises the activity and capability of NFA to respond to property fire.

NFA is therefore humbly pleading with members of the community to refrain from starting bush and rubbish fires.