Rwanda National Police

The Rwanda National Police calls upon the general public to be safety cautious to avoid incidences of outbreak to prevent loss of lives and property.

Police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner of Police Damas Gatare stressed that the general population should be careful with elements that could cause fire outbreak such as electrical appliances and candles.

“We urge members of the public to always switch off domestic electrical appliances, candles and stop burning grass, which are among the major cause of fire outbreak,” ACP Gatare said.

He also appealed to owners of buildings to install firefighting gadgets to help put out the fire in case it breaks out.

A total of 38 incidences of fire outbreak have been registered since January this year, including the Wednesday incident in Muhanga which gutted a prison.

Last year, a total of 84 cases were registered countrywide, injuring eight people and killing eight others.

Majority incidents are due to short-circuit, candles, welding and domestic electrical appliances, according to Police statistics.

50 out of 93 cases registered in 2012 were also due to short circuit.
ACP Gatare also explained that some short circuits are caused by damaged electrical conductors, substandard, poor or old installations which cannot accommodate the connected electrical gadgets.

He warned farmers against burning grass in gardens, which is among the major cause of wild fire.

"We are now in the dry season and any fire, however, small it is like a cigarette, can cause disaster and it's important that people take note of this as a preventive measure," he noted.

He further called on everyone to always report fire incidents in time and respond to rescue missions in case of such disasters, to avoid serious damages.

He outlined the 111 (toll-free), 07888311224, 07888311120 and 0788311335 as the contacts that can be used to call the RNP fire and rescue unit, in case of any fire incident.

He also urged the public to listen to its sensitisation programme on causes of fire outbreak, flooding and other disasters, as well as preventive measures.

The Rwanda National Police is currently equipping its fire and rescue unit with modern fire-fighting equipment and has been conducting training and awareness among the public to respond effectively to such incidents
This year, the force acquired two rescue crane vehicles to add to its fleet of other fire-fighting trucks.

Last year, the RNP in partnership with the City of Kigali and Energy, Water and Sanitation Authority (EWSA), launched the exercise to install water hydrants in different parts of the city to further strengthen measures against fire breakouts.

The Fire and Rescue Brigade was facing a challenge of lack of enough water filling stations, as the nearest and only firefighting trucks’ refilling station was based in Kimisagara of Nyarugenge District.

This at times would affect their rescue mission in case it required more water.
A number of water hydrants have since been installed around big facilities like hotels, financial institutions, night clubs, schools, petrol stations and markets, among others places.

ACP Gatare also assured the public that the force would not relent in its awareness campaign aimed at reducing loss of lives and property.