News / Local
BCC on high fire outbreak alert this winter
28 May 2013 at 11:19hrs | Views
The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) is on high fire alert in anticipation of an upsurge of fire incidents during the forthcoming winter season.
In interview yesterday with the Radio Dialogue, the city's acting chief fire officer Edward Mpofu said the winter season usually had a higher number of incidents of fire accidents and as such they were geared to handle the situation.
"We have a total of 10 fire tenders to date and I can say we are prepared to keep the situation under control. We are working towards boosting our manpower, but overally we are geared to deal with a likelihood of an upsurge of fire incidents during winter," said Mpofu.
He said the city's fire fighters were conducting daily inspections of hydrants to ensure they are functioning well so than in the event of a fire there is a trusted water source.
"The trend is that people bury the hydrants and fire fighters usually have challenges in connecting to them when there is a fire outbreak. We conduct the routine checks daily," said Mpofu.
He said they had also deployed their fire prevention division to conduct awareness campaigns to members of the public.
"These teams are mainly teaching members of the public what to do in the event that a fire breaks out and dangers of fires," said Mpofu.
He said the fire prevention teams were targeting high churches, density suburbs and low density suburbs.
"We would like to urge members of the public not to leave heaters unattended and to place candles where there are no combustable materials. Fires should be made outside the house as well as braziers because if the sparks land on combustable material such as blankets there could be a fire," said Mpofu.
He said owners of thatched property should treat the thatch with fire retardants to protect it from fire.
Bulawayo lost property valued at more than $1 million owing to fires that broke out between January and March.
In interview yesterday with the Radio Dialogue, the city's acting chief fire officer Edward Mpofu said the winter season usually had a higher number of incidents of fire accidents and as such they were geared to handle the situation.
"We have a total of 10 fire tenders to date and I can say we are prepared to keep the situation under control. We are working towards boosting our manpower, but overally we are geared to deal with a likelihood of an upsurge of fire incidents during winter," said Mpofu.
He said the city's fire fighters were conducting daily inspections of hydrants to ensure they are functioning well so than in the event of a fire there is a trusted water source.
"The trend is that people bury the hydrants and fire fighters usually have challenges in connecting to them when there is a fire outbreak. We conduct the routine checks daily," said Mpofu.
"These teams are mainly teaching members of the public what to do in the event that a fire breaks out and dangers of fires," said Mpofu.
He said the fire prevention teams were targeting high churches, density suburbs and low density suburbs.
"We would like to urge members of the public not to leave heaters unattended and to place candles where there are no combustable materials. Fires should be made outside the house as well as braziers because if the sparks land on combustable material such as blankets there could be a fire," said Mpofu.
He said owners of thatched property should treat the thatch with fire retardants to protect it from fire.
Bulawayo lost property valued at more than $1 million owing to fires that broke out between January and March.
Source - Radio Dialogue
