Rwanda National Police

The Rwanda National Police (RNP) firefighters braved a fire in Kibagabaga Cell of Kimironko Sector in Gasabo District and extinguished it before it could harm lives or spread to neighboring premises.

The fire incident which happened in the afternoon of March 22, in a rental house belonging to a resident, Marie Josee Uhorakeye, was caused by carelessness of a house tenant, who misplaced a steaming flat iron on sponge material, Police said.

 The Police Spokesperson for Central Region, Superintendent Modeste Mbabazi, called on the general public to always be careful when using electrical appliances and take heed against any action that may cause fire outbreak and harm lives and destroy property.

“The fire destroyed some house equipment including mattresses, clothes, shoes, and also destroyed the house’s ceiling. However, the Police fire brigade appeared in time and put it out before it escalated to the rest of the house or neighbouring houses,” he said.

 “We urge the public to always come forward with information and report to Police in as the shortest time possible so that we can respond swiftly. We should always partner through community policing, which has proved beneficial in fostering security of our country.”

Causes of fire outbreaks in the country are mainly; old electric wirings, overloading electric appliances,  carelessness, arson and ignorance, according to police report

The Fire and Rescue Brigade at RNP has seven firefighting and rescue trucks stationed in Kigali, which are well equipped with modern tools and technology, to extinguish fires in as little time as possible.

One of the trucks is a special vehicle with capacity to rescue people and extinguish fire up to the 20th floor of a storey building.

RNP boasts 98 firefighters and rescue personnel, trained in both general firefighting techniques and specific expertise, while it also established an emergency toll free line, 111, which citizens can call in case of a fire outbreak.

Whereas most fires appear to be in busy Kigali City,  such disastrous cases have also been happening in other provinces. It is in that light that Police is planning to roll out more firefighting equipment and personnel across the country.