Fire incidents decline in Byo

Nqobile Tshili Chronicle Reporter
BULAWAYO recorded 272 fire incidents between January and September, a decrease of 16.6 percent compared to the same period last year, an official has said.
Mr Richard Peterson, the city’s chief fire officer, attributed the decrease to awareness campaigns the Fire Brigade embarked on.
“We are working with churches, children’s homes, hospitals, schools and teachers to educate them on what action they should undertake in the event of the outbreak of fire,” Mr Peterson told Chronicle.

He said the awareness campaigns were meant to empower residents on what appropriate action to take during fire incidents.
“Of the 272 fires recorded we attended 114 at residential homes, 50 on burnt rubbish, 29 involving cars and 17 veld fires,” said Mr Petersen.

“What this means is 114 families were affected by the fires and some were killed, injured and confined to wheelchairs in the process.”
Mr Peterson said they were also educating members of the public on the consequences of deliberately burning litter at home.
He appealed to residents to stop sending false alarms to the Fire Brigade.

“There are people who are obsessed with hearing ambulance and fire brigade sirens who call us causing alarm. They lead to wastage of resources and if they are found they face arrest,” said Mr Petersen.