English
Kinyarwanda
A group of 68 pupils from Path to Success International school in Kimihurura Sector, Gasabo District, visited Rwanda National Police (RNP) headquarters in Kacyiru, where they were given basic firefighting skills such as detection, evacuations procedures and usage of fire extinguishers.
The pupils were accompanied with their school teaching staff during the one day study tour on June 19, where they met with officers from the fire and rescue brigade. The pupils' visit is in line with the RNP concept of equipping communities with firefighting techniques in ensuring community safety.
After demonstrations on how to put out fire, Dinah Asaba, one of the teachers commended RNP for its continued efforts in ensuring security in school environment by reaching out to pupils and students on different themes including firefighting, gender-based-violence and drug abuse among others.
“We found it imperative to organize a study tour at RNP so that our pupils can practically understand the causes of fire and how to overcome it. These are young people and such knowledge helps them to grow up understanding the negative consequences of fire outbreaks, so they do not start fires carelessly,” he said.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Jean Baptiste Seminega, the Commanding Officer of Fire and Rescue Brigade, who received the pupils on behalf of the IGP said that sharing fire fighting skills with members of the community is part of RNP’s wider programmes aimed at sensitizing the public with necessary firefighting skills and prevention.
“This scheme helps to improve schools’ partnerships with police in overcoming insecurity and ensuring safety. The pupils indicated an incredible willingness to learn through the questions they asked – and this improve their understanding and confidence.”
He also appealed to school authorities to call Police for timely intervention on toll free line 112, 111, and 0788311224 in case they have spotted fire incidents.
RNP has so far trained over 2,200 people on firefighting including employees of government institutions, as well as private sector players in hotels, bars, night clubs, commercial institutions petrol stations and schools.
