EDITORIAL - Get serious about fire saftey

Reports are that during the period January 1 to June 8, 2016, the Barbados Fire Service (BFS) has witnessed an increase in activity in almost all of the categories of emergency to which they respond. The Fire Service has also expressed some concern about house fires, given the impact these have on householders and even communities.

 

This Department has really done its best over the years to spread the word about the need for better fire safety measures on the part of householders. Yet, it seems that these messages are not being taken seriously. 

 

Acting Chief Fire Officer, Errol Maynard, has been vocal about the increase in residential fires, stressing that they are of great concern to the BFS since the effects are far reaching. He 

pointed out the densely populated parish of St. Michael, noting that 17 out of the 39 residential fires that occurred for the year were located here, while the others were distributed across the other parishes. It was also suggested that indiscriminate burning around homes factored into the equation in some instances, as well as bush fires originating from overgrown lots

 

Now it is really hard in these trying times to find financial resources to rebuild a home, or to even find a new place to rent. Taking into account the fact that most fire victims report that they   lose the majority of their possessions during a fire, it really behooves us to look at this issue of fire safety in greater detail.

 

Homeowners must do their part to ensure that house fires in Barbados are reduced. By having a simple checklist which is followed daily, homeowners can better ensure that their properties do not go up in smoke. When leaving home, residents should make sure that appliances that are not needed are unplugged. For example, fans do not need to be constantly plugged in, neither do laptops nor other electronic devices. Homeowners also need to check on electrical wires around the home and fix any wires that are damaged. Persons who are cooking or who have plans to cook should ensure that they are not fatigued or under the influence of any medications or any other legal or illegal substances that would impair their ability to carry out and complete their tasks safely. Individuals who smoke should not do so in bed and they should dispose of their cigarette butts in the appropriate containers, soaking them in water if necessary.

 

Householders should also engage in good housekeeping practices, ensuring that they keep in and around their properties clean and tidy by not allowing materials such as old wood, logs, grass piles, sponge or plastics to accumulate. Vacant lots overrun by grass should also be cleaned, given that any grass fire that takes place in close proximity to your home is a potential threat to that home.

 

These are just a few steps which can be taken to ensure that homeowners keep a roof above their heads. 

 

The onus, however, is on all citizens to educate themselves about fire prevention and fire safety measures before the fire bug rears its head. We cannot afford to lose any more homes or lives to fire.