Fire prevention programme launched in the city

Dehiwala –Mount Lavinia Municipal Fire Service Department has launched a programme on fire prevention in the city. Chief Fire Service Officer L. Sunanda Perera said ill-planned buildings, shanties and unauthorized erections had resulted in the danger of fire accidents. He pointed out that buildings that were not up to the standards were in danger of collapse and that a hotel complex in Wellawatta that collapsed, was one such.

“Constructors of many buildings in the city have ignored the need of fire protection systems and in case of fire the occupants are exposed to a danger. Shanty dwellers are the most vulnerable to fire accidents. A fire in a building in Bellanwila area claimed the life of an occupant for want of emergency fire prevention mechanism in the building. Investigations revealed that it was an unauthorised building. We find it difficult to douse a fire in ill-planned buildings. Several buildings, particularly the shanties are not accessible to our vehicles,” he said.

A resident of a housing complex in Dehiwala K.D. Siripala Gamarachchi said several individuals had erected unauthorized extensions to their houses and that the entire housing complex would be in danger in case of a fire.

“Congested buildings result in the fast spread of the fire. The damage would be extensive by the time the fire service units arrived. The contractors have not provided fire extinguishers for many houses and the occupants are not in a position to prevent the spread of the fire until the Fire Service Unit arrived,” he said.

Commenting on the fire prevention programme, the Dehiwala-mount Lavinia Chief Fire Service Officer L. Sunanda Perera said the fire service department was in possession of adequate vehicles, machinery and equipment and manpower to act in case of an emergency.

“We rush to the scene within seconds of receiving information. The firemen are trained at regular intervals on dousing a fire. We hold rehearsals in flats, housing schemes and shanties. Our special programme includes instructions on fire prevention and training on disaster management in case of a fire. Occupants of houses are trained on the use of fire extinguishers while representatives of the public are trained on the use of fire service machinery and equipment and on helping the fire service department in case of a disaster. Workshops for them have been held at several areas in the city,” he said.

We rush to the scene within seconds of receiving information. The firemen are trained at regular intervals on dousing a fire. We hold rehearsals in flats, housing schemes and shanties. Our special programme includes instructions on fire prevention and training on disaster management in case of a fire

Constructors of many buildings in the city have ignored the need of fire protection systems and in case of fire the occupants are exposed to a danger