English
Kinyarwanda
The Rwanda National Police (RNP) has continued its nationwide fire prevention and safety awareness campaign in Karongi and Nyamasheke districts in Western Province, as part of efforts to strengthen public awareness and promote community participation in preventing and responding to fires.
Launched in early November 2026, the campaign aims to equip citizens with essential knowledge and practical skills to prevent fires, understand their causes, and respond effectively when they occur.
The training sessions, held on Monday, November 9, at the conference halls of Karongi and Nyamasheke districts, attracted 579 participants, including 339 from Karongi and 240 from Nyamasheke.
The participants represented different sectors of society, including local government leaders, members of the Private Sector Federation (PSF), security personnel, DASSO officers, engineers, building managers, business owners, petrol station attendants, hotel employees, teachers, and youth volunteers.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Paul Gatambira, the Commanding Officer of the Fire and Rescue Brigade (FRB), emphasized that knowledge of fire hazards, their causes, and prevention measures is essential for everyone.
He explained that understanding fire-related risks enables individuals to take preventive measures and respond appropriately to protect themselves and others in the event of an outbreak.
“We explain what a fire is, the components of the Fire Triangle, the causes and classes of fires, as well as unsafe practices that can lead to fire incidents, including welding using substandard equipment,” ACP Gatambira said.
He stressed that fire prevention should not be regarded as a responsibility limited to urban communities, noting that fire incidents can occur anywhere and that every individual has a role to play in preventing and responding to them.
“This campaign is not intended for people living in urban areas alone because fires can occur anywhere. We want people to understand fires, their causes, how to prevent them, and how to extinguish them when they occur using the basic equipment available to them,” he said.
ACP Gatambira further urged citizens not to rely solely on the Police whenever a fire breaks out, but instead to understand the preventive measures and basic firefighting techniques they can safely apply before emergency responders arrive.
He also highlighted the importance of building safety inspections, noting that participants received training on various fire protection systems and other safety measures required in buildings.
These included water-based fire suppression systems, fire detection and alarm systems, automatic fire suppression systems, fire extinguishers, and lightning protection systems.
Participants were also sensitized to electrical safety inspections, monitoring and testing equipment, and appropriate building compartmentalization methods to prevent the spread of fire.
The training further covered other safety equipment and measures designed to improve overall building safety and minimize the risks associated with fire incidents.
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