The Chief Fire Force Officer of the National Fire Force, Nassir Kamanda Bongay has said that 75% of the fire disasters happening across the country are caused by electrical problems and delays in response is as a result of inadequate water hydrants.
He said majority of the wirings in some homes are fitted with out-dated 7044 cables made in Britain which only last for 20 years whilst the same cables made in China and other countries last for ten years.
He added that the recent spates of fire disasters in Freetown are caused by poor electrical fittings despite several warnings for periodic change of cables.
He also stated that since 2015 over four hundred houses have been destroyed by fire, majority of them are caused by electrical problems whilst very few are caused by candle or bush fire.
He noted that recently a house was burnt down at Leicester village caused by bush fire whilst many others in the provinces are also caused by fire wood and candles.
He furthered that the Chinese made LCD lights have also helped to reduce fire accidents caused by candles.
The Chief Fire Officer also stated that they have recorded less than fifteen deaths from fire related accidents, but that properties worth millions of Leones are usually destroyed in the inferno.
Responding about the recent burning of the Ministry of Energy, he said despite several warnings to Government departments about fire precautionary measures most institutions do not abide by the rules.
He said presently they have eight fire engines donated by the Chinese and the Germans to be used within the Western Area Urban and Rural to respond to fire disasters.
Highlighting some of their challenges at the National Fire Force, the Chief Fire Officer said the inadequate water hydrants within the city are a major challenge.
He said “we only have two hydrants for the entire Freetown, one is located at Brookfield’s and the other one is at Goderich Femi Turner community.”
He appealed to the Guma Valley Water Company to install more hydrants in strategically located areas within Freetown to reduce the hassle for water during fire response period.
The Chief Fire Officer stated that the public is also arrogant to fire fighters while discharging their duties, citing the recent incident at Siaka Stevens Street where irate youths stoned and smashed the windscreen of one of their fire vehicles which left one of their fire fighters seriously wounded.
He also disclosed that a new fire policy is currently under formulation at the Law Reform Commission that will be tabled in Parliament that will address prevention and control of fire disasters in the country.
By Saidu Bah
Thursday February 04, 2016
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