English
Kinyarwanda
The Rwanda National Police (RNP) countrywide programme to equip the general public with firefighting techniques continued in Integrated Polytechnic Regional Centre (IPRC-West) in Karongi District on January 18 where the administration staff were acquainted with skills on how to prevent and put out fires.
A team of RNP officers that also explained to the students and the polytechnic administration on the causes of fires was led by Inspector of Police (IP) Jean Baptiste Rutebuka, the District Community Liaison Officer (DCLO) of Karongi.
They first inspected polytechnic facilities available and status of firefighting gadgets, and taught them on how better to handle and preserve them.
IP Rutebuka urged the school administration to handle the gadgets like fire extinguishers with care. This was after some of the gadgets were found that had been improperly handled.
They were urged to always replace them with new ones to always be on a better side to respond to fire, in case it breaks out.
“Some of fires are caused by substandard or old electric cables. There are also people who use lay-practitioners to install electricity in their houses, which at times causes short-circuit, that results into fire outbreak,” IP Rutebuka said.
He further told them that overloading the electric system in the house or extension cable can also result into short-circuit.
“As a tertiary institution, the students should be learning from you on how to be well equipped against fire and how to handle these gadgets.”
In case of fire breaks out, he also urged them to always call police on toll-free lines 111 (fire rescue) and 112 (emergency), and a mobile line – 0788311120, for immediate response to prevent the fire from escalating to other facilities and mass loss.
Kalisa Thadée, the IPRC-West electrician said: “The message we got from Police was vital and timely, and it has imparted skills, not only in us as polytechnic staff but also the students, who will apply these skills at home or where they will be employed.”
