Let’s practise fire safety to avoid unnecessary loss of properties

The National Fire Authority chief executive officer, Puamau Sowane, has given us a timely warning on the importance of fire safety. With the onset of summer when it gets warmer and drier and risks of fire are much higher we need to heed Mr Sowane’s advice.

He has urged the general public to take extra precautions and practise fire safety to avoid unnecessary loss of properties. Human lives are also usually threatened in the event of a fire.

The latest fire victim is 59-year-old farmer, Inia Komai, who lost his house on Tuesday afternoon at an informal settlement in Gaji Road, Raiwasa, Suva. The fire crew used two deliveries of water from the fire trucks to extinguish the fire and stopped it spreading to adjacent houses.

This is the first week of the school holidays and many children are spending more time at home. They must be supervised to prevent them from doing something silly that would spark a fire.

Fire safety is all our responsibility at work and at home and we should take ownership of it. The fire alert and safety tips should be practised by everyone and all organisations to help save lives and properties.

Fire safety is a set of rules and practices that not only prevent fire but reduce damage in the event of a fire.

Some fires are caused by carelessness and recklessness and they can be avoided if proper care and precautions are taken. Others are caused by arsonists or events beyond our control.

We have seen the devastation caused by bushfires in a number of overseas countries including the United States of America and Australia.

During this summer the warmer conditions can be a trigger for fires and that is why it’s so important to be extremely careful.

Many of the fire safety tips are common sense. Before we leave our homes, let’s make sure that switches and electric appliances, gas stoves/ovens, are turned off when they are not in use.

Keep matches and other items that could start a fire away from children.

For those, who are burning rubbish around the house, make sure the fire is contained in an enclosure to prevent it from spreading.

Cigarette butts and matches should be properly extinguished before being discarded.

If you are cooking, ensure that the stove is turned off before you walk away.

Every house must have smoke detectors and fire alarms. All occupants must be familiar with an escape route during a fire and regular fire drills are essential to keep them updated.

All these measures will save properties and lives.