Rwanda National Police

Fire is a very good servant, but, a very bad master. As long as fire is under our control, it serves a lot of useful purposes, but, once it goes out of our control, it can create a lot of destruction. However, despite the presence of fire safety measures, the occurrence of such disasters is often-times inevitable.

We have on several occasions seen fire out breaks that have left lives and property lost; here we can mention the recent Muhanga and Rubavu Prison fires as well as shops destroyed in Quatier Mateus in down town Kigali.

If we have to avoid similar incidents, then we need to beware of what are the possible causes of these undesirable horrendous fires.

The causes of fire could be mainly how carelessly we use electrical and other flammable equipment which we undoubtedly can’t live without.

Some electrical gadgets and wiring in particular are poorly installed most-times by lay-practitioners, old wiring system and overloading the weak wiring system resulting into short circuit.

Over 40 incidences of fire outbreak have been registered since January this year.

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

Majority incidents are due to short-circuit especially during  welding and domestic electrical appliances, according to Police statistics. Fifty out of 93 cases registered in 2012 were also due to short circuit.

Cooking gas and oil have also contributed to fire breakouts.

There are times unnoticed gas leakages of gas that can cause fire. Regular check of our gas pipes is paramount.

Littering lit cigarettes and bush burning have also been blamed for wild fire which has destroyed our natural resources like forests and game reserves.

Most of the fires we see here is class ‘A’ involving some solid material like clothes, paper, junk-heap, wood etc. This coupled with uneven distribution causes like the dry season due to higher ambient temperature; as well as dry leaves fuelling these disasters.

It should be understood that here we didn’t mention 'ARSON.'

Under normal circumstance, if after investigations it’s found out that a given person intentionally set a facility ablaze or caused bush fire, he or she is prosecuted and perished according to the law.

The Rwanda National Police has therefore stepped up measures to contain such incidents including procuring hi-tech firefighting equipment.

In addition to a fleet of such disaster management gadgets in RNP stores including the two rescue crane vehicles which can rescue people or goods up to 15 floors of a building, the force is set to acquire six other firefighting trucks, to also reinforce provinces.

Rwanda National Police is also working with city authorities to ensure that all buildings coming up today must fulfil, among other things, fire safety requirement before occupation.

RNP has also been working with the local administration to procure fire engines that would be stationed in other major towns for quick response other than waiting for seeing machines from Kigali.

The main point here however is not only about the response but also prevention, which is the stake of everyone.

Installing water hydrants on buildings, an exercise initiated by RNP and CoK would also supplement during firefighting process.

It is therefore important that all of us take all necessary precautions, check  and switch-off all electric installations, avoid bush burning and throwing lit cigarettes and install fire extinguishers.

In case of any fire incident, public should rush to call the Police rescue unit on 111 and 112 (toll-free), 07888311224, 07888311120 and 0788311335.