Handbooks and Publications - Fire Prevention | Page 13
Fire Prevention Tips
THE HOT, DRY MONTHS
April to June are the hot months or the time when farmers prepare their lands for
planting in the rainy season. It is during this time that the Fire Department
responds to a great number of bush fires which occur because of carelessness on
the part of farmers. When bush fires occur, they destroy crops, fertile soil, cause
erosion, destroy wind breaks, property and lives.
The economy suffers, the
environment is poisoned.
Safety Tips:
Do not bum in the late afternoon.
Do not set fire and depart from the scene.
Always bum in small batches or heaps.
Bum in the center of the lands.
Have an idea of the wind direction (by placing a piece of cloth or paper on a
stick you will get an idea.
Inform your neighbour of your intention to burn. Inform the Fire Department.
Always have a hose or container with water at your reach for emergency.
Avoid smoking and discarding your cigarettes butts without care, remember
the majority of fires are caused by our irresponsibility (carelessness).
HOME PROTECTION SYSTEMS
SMOKE DETECTORS/ALARMS
Most fire victims die from inhalation of smoke and toxic gases, not as a result of
burns. Most deaths and injuries also result from fires which occur during the night
while its victims are asleep. Sleepers must be warned before it is too late to make a
safe and quick escape. Properly installed and maintained, the home smoke detector
is considered one of the best and least expensive means of providing an early
warning when a fire begins, level, or before the fire becomes too intense. There is no
doubt about it, smoke detectors save injuries and minimize the development of fires.
The risk of from fires in homes where detectors are not installed is twice as as in
homes that have functioning detectors.
Smoke detectors work by sensing the rising smoke from a fire and sounding a
piercing alarm. There are two types of smoke detectors:
1. Ionization Chamber Detectors use a radioactive source to produce
electrically charged molecules (ions) in the air. This sets up an electric
current within the detector chamber. When smoke enters the chambers, it
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