Cape Town - The Western Cape Department of Human Settlements has urged residents in informal settlements and backyard dwellings to practice fire safety during the festive period.
The department said cigarette butts, fire lighters, matches, candles, illegal and overloaded electrical connections, and heating appliances such as paraffin stoves could be lethal if not properly monitored.
Due to informal structures often being so close to each other, fires often spread quickly and could result in many structures being burnt to the ground, serious injuries, destruction of property, and in some instances possible death.
MEC of Infrastructure, Tertuis Simmers said: “The Western Cape is often marked by devastating fires during a time of the year that should be marked with happiness and joy in our communities. The extent of the fires only varies, based on the density of an area and the ability of emergency vehicles to gain access to the affected area of an informal settlement. These fires are largely caused by open flame sources and overloaded illegal electrical connections. Residents can assist to prevent these unfortunate incidences by being prepared, vigilant and practicing safety measures. Some preparation is always better than dealing with a crisis, particularly during this time of the year.”
To assist in preventing fires, the department has appealed to residents to ensure that their structures were at least 3 metres apart.
Earlier this year, the National Department of Human Settlements announced new directives applicable to deal with natural disasters, such as floods, thunderstorms and fires, that will allow the Department to utilise available funds from various grants to intervene in dealing with disasters.
Residents were encouraged to have emergency numbers saved or printed out for easy access.
These include the numbers for nearest SAPS office, fire station, and ambulance services.
In case of an emergency, residents can also call 112 from their cellphone.
Cape Times