With winter at its zenith, more and more Capetonians are keeping the cold at bay by lighting fires, often with devastating consequences.
Since the beginning of this year, the City’s Fire and Rescue Service has dealt with a total of 1 508 structural fire incidents, of which 448 involved informal structures and 514 involved formal houses.
Residents are therefore urged to take precautions to prevent fires, and to ensure that the Service is called immediately should a fire break out.
Most fires are caused by carelessness. Cigarettes, matches, lighters, candles, electrical faults, heating appliances, cooking appliances and equipment such as electric blankets can all be lethal. The Service’s Fire and Life Safety Section has increased its educational campaigns to further highlight the need to be more cautious when using electricity, paraffin and gas.
The Service is continuously exploring new and innovative ways of responding to and extinguishing fires in as rapid a manner as possible to prevent damage to property and loss of life.
Specialised water/foam tankers
Three specialised off-road water/foam tankers have been added to the Fire and Rescue fleet in order to assist fire-fighters to quickly access fires in informal settlements. These vehicles also have the advantage of using less water than conventional fire engines.
Cameras used to locate fires
The Service uses a state of the art camera system to detect possible fires within the camera’s geographical area. This early warning system allows for a quicker response to fires of all types.
The City has contracted the services of EVS to provide a 24 hour monitoring service for the cameras at the Fire and Rescue Service Command and Control Centre in Goodwood. The cameras are able to identify the presence of smoke in any area within range of the camera system, and through a system of triangulation pinpoint an address to which the fire response vehicles are then dispatched.
The second advantage of the camera system is that the cameras are capable of focusing in on fires and assisting in determining if additional vehicles are required. These vehicles can then be dispatched before the first vehicle arrives at the incident.
The cameras have been installed at the following sites:
- Khayelitsha – 9SAI, Military Base
- Cape Town International Airport – ATNS
- Muizenberg
- Tygerberg Hill
- Cape Town Harbour – Port control building
- Stellenbosch – Papegaaiberg
The correct telephone number to call to report a fire is 107 from a landline and 021 480 7700 from a cell phone (enter the number on your cell phone as a speed dial)
The following tips will help keep you and your family safe from fire:
Using electricity safely
- Do not overload your electrical circuits – in other words, do not use more than four plugs simultaneously on one extension.
- Service your electrical components regularly and replace faulty ones.
- Switch off all electrical appliances at the wall at night or when leaving your home.
- When you are cooking on any sort of stove, gas, electric or paraffin, do not leave the pot on the stove unless you are watching it.
- Electrical connections must be professionally installed and properly earthed with the correct circuit breakers in place.
Using paraffin safely
- Always handle paraffin with extreme care, as it is poisonous and can burn your skin even if unlit. Paraffin is often sold in containers contaminated with chemicals such as petrol, or mixed with methylated spirits. This can cause it to flare dangerously or even explode.
- Paraffin can cause severe burns, and paraffin stoves that are knocked over or explode are a major cause of injuries and fires in informal settlements. Paraffin also emits harmful fumes when ignited.
- Never leave a paraffin appliance unattended. It only takes a second for a gust of wind, pet or child to knock over a light or stove.
- Make sure paraffin appliances are on a flat, firm surface.
- Do not put a cloth under a paraffin appliance. A child or pet could pull the trailing end and knock over the appliance. The cloth will burn easily, further fuelling the fire.
- Always have a bucket of sand nearby when using a paraffin appliance. Water will not extinguish a paraffin fire and can make matters worse by spreading the flames. Paraffin fires can only be extinguished using sand or a fire extinguisher.
- Do not use a paraffin stove near a window with a curtain.
Safety around an open flame
- Keep matches and lighters out of children’s reach.
- Cut candles in half to prevent them falling over, and use a candle holder.
- Do not smoke in bed.
- Do not go to sleep with candles still burning.
Other precautions
- Teach children about the dangers of fire.
- Watch out for discarded cigarette butts.
- Be aware of the dangers of illegal and faulty electricity connections.
- Keep a bucket handy to fill with water so that you can extinguish flames easily.
- Keep a bucket of sand to put out paraffin fires.
- Build dwellings a good distance (at least 3 m) apart to prevent fires from spreading. Make sure this space is kept open.
- Keep roads and access to dwellings clear at all times.
- Do not block roads with possessions when there is a fire.
- Do not prevent or disrupt the work of fire crews fighting fires.
- Keep a well-maintained fire extinguisher in your house, and know how to use it.
- If you have a garden hose, keep it rolled up and ready in case of fire.
- Where possible, have more than one exit from your house.
- Have an escape plan, and make sure that the whole family knows the plan.
- Do not park in the way of a fire hydrant (and remind your neighbours and visitors to do the same).
Fighting fires
Remember always call for the City’s Fire and Rescue Services via 107 before you make any attempt to fight a fire yourself. If your clothing catches fire: Start the stop, drop and roll procedure:
- Stop where you are.
- Drop to the floor.
- Roll around on the floor.
This will smother the flames and save your life. If another person catches fire, smother the flames by wrapping him or her in a blanket, carpet or rug.
Never stop to fight a fire if:
- The fire is spreading beyond its origin.
- You can’t fight the fire with your back to an escape exit.
- You don’t have adequate fire-fighting equipment.
- Make sure that your fire-fighting equipment is clean and in working order (check with the manufacturer’s instructions to see how often this needs to be done).
- Modern day fire-fighting equipment is highly efficient and sophisticated, but unless you know how to use the equipment, it is in good working condition and it is easy to find get hold of, it is quite useless!
For more information, visit the Fire and Rescue Service Website.
