Let’s pay more attention to fire safety at Xmas

The increasing spate of fire outbreaks in the country has been attributed to the neglect of fire safety rules.

For instance, overloading of electrical sockets, improper and careless use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), open electrical gadgets in homes and offices and improper handling of flammable liquids have all been identified as major causes of fire outbreaks.

The general populace has also been blamed for not engaging qualified electricians to wire their properties and not avoiding the use of fake cables.

With only nine days to the Christmas festivities, a lot of activities will take place involving the use of fire or electricity.

The kitchen or the home, farms, workplaces and entertainment joints are only a few places where, without the power of fire or electricity, life becomes difficult and unpleasant.

Oftentimes when we use fire to cook or provide any form of service, we forget that if it is not well managed, the same fire could turn our joy into pain.

The adage: fire is a good servant but a bad master, serves to admonish users of fire in whatever form to be careful to use it wisely and under control so that it will not hurt or cause damage to us.

And as we approach the Yuletide, the demand for and use of various heat sources increase as we prepare dishes for our families and guests and also illuminate our homes with lighted decors.

Places such as drinking bars, pubs, restaurants and nightclubs also become highly patronised.

This is where we often forget to be cautious or even monitor the systems we have set up to provide us with food or entertainment.

In the case of electrical gadgets, for instance, overloading the sockets, leaving appliances unattended to, prolonged use of air conditioners and the use of faulty appliances must all be avoided.

In the kitchen, instead of turning off our stoves, we leave them on, with the excuse that we will use them again within seconds.

When we do so, we forget that we have combustible materials close to the fire.

It is in this light that we share in the caution given by the Director in charge of Fire Safety of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), Deputy Chief Fire Officer Mr Obeng Dankwa Dwamena, that we need to pay more attention to our safety as far as the use of fire is concerned.

Sharing some perspectives on fire safety tips at an event to climax the Graphic Communications Group Limited’s Safety and Security Campaign in Accra last Thursday, Mr Dwamena called for the need to adhere to fire safety rules.

His caution is coming at a time when the dynamics of the weather — less humidity and dry vegetation — are making combustible materials prone to fires.

To serve as a reminder, especially in the kitchen where a lot of cooking will be taking place in the season, Mr Dwamena admonished us not to leave our curtains loose in the kitchen or wear loose dresses when cooking.

He said we must also check leakages on our cylinders and the hoses connecting cylinders and stoves and desist from putting heavy objects such as stones on cylinders.

We are also advised to keep lit candles away from combustible materials, stop refuelling generators when in use and not dispose of insecticide cans in fires.

On electricity, we are cautioned not to run electrical wires or cords under carpets and to avoid unauthorised electrical connections, check the electrical wiring of our appliances, especially fridges, and switch off appliances from the wall socket.

The Daily Graphic entreats all of us to make a conscious effort to be sensitive to these pieces of advice, especially coming from a body such as the GNFS.

Christmas is a joyous occasion and we cannot afford to be in pain when we should be celebrating.