Rwanda National Police

The Rwanda National Police (RNP) Fire and Rescue Brigade has started training on fire safety targeting mainly public places like schools, market places, churches and hospitals.

According to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Jean Baptiste Seminega, the Commanding Officer (CO) of Fire and Rescue Brigade in RNP, this phase of fire safety awareness will take one month.

"This training was designed to educate students, people in churches, business centres and health facilities on how safe to use Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and the overall fire safety including electricity as well as safer ways to put out fire using varied firefighting equipment," ACP Seminega said.

"So far, we have trained over 2800 people in Downtown, students of IPRC Kigali and Saint Aloys Secondary School," he added. 

Fire safety awareness will also be extended to INES Musanze, Musanze modern market, Ruhengeri Hospital, Gisenyi Hospital, Gisenyi  market, Independent University of Kigali (ULK), University Teaching Hospital of Butare (CHUB), GSO Butare-Indatwa, Huye market and Zion Temple Church, among others.

“We need people to first know their risky actions and behaviours, which lead to fire outbreak as a preventive measure but also equip them with basic skills on how to use fire extinguishers, fire blankets and sand. We also intend to impart in them the responsive spirit and real time alertness in case of fire for quick reaction."

He observed that some people don't know how safe to use cooking gas including switching on and off the gas cylinder and cooker, and kitchen set-up which should have enough air, opening windows before using cooking gas so as to let out any likely gas which could have leaked. 

The awareness includes reminding the public to always switch off electric appliances.

"Majority of fire cases were due to unattended electronic appliances and cooking gas, candles and electronic short-circuit largely due to ignorance and negligence," said ACP Seminega.

At least 116 cases of fire were recorded in 2018 and more 126 cases occurred last year. Eleven fire incidents have so far occurred since the beginning of this year.

"We target students, traders, christians, hospital workers and communities during Umuganda. We also conduct inspections in facilities which entertain many people, as well as give advice on fire safety and preventive measures."

The fire and rescue brigade was established in 2002 with just 16 unqualified Police officers and two substandard vehicles (a Fuso and pick-up). With the government support, the unit has since increased its emergency response capacity and establieshed detachments down to the regional level and with trained personnel.