Take precautions against fires
Jun 23, 2007
Fire has yet again claimed the lives of three children. They were burnt to death on Wednesday night in Ndeeba, in Kampala while their mother was away.
Fire has yet again claimed the lives of three children. They were burnt to death on Wednesday night in Ndeeba, in Kampala while their mother was away.
The fire was caused by a candle which the children left burning while they slept. In another incident in Dabani Secondary School in Busia, a dormitory caught fire and a lot of property was lost. Again the cause of the fire was a candle. In March 2006, seven children of Kabarole Islamic School in Fort Portal perished when their dormitory burnt down as a result of a candle left burning.
Many other similar incidents go unreported. With the current energy crisis in the country and the general poverty among the population, there is need for urgent intervention to prevent such loss of lives. Local leaders at the grassroots need to sensitise the people about the use of candles, particularly where children are involved. Where possible, candles should not be used at all. Also discouraged should be the use of tadoobas (wick candles) because they are equally dangerous.
The Government should think seriously about mass importation of lanterns at very subsidised prices and reducing the price of paraffin. The Police Fire Brigade also needs to be facilitated to respond to fire outbreaks immediately. This means there should be a reasonable number of fire-trucks with fuel and staff on standby.
The fire was caused by a candle which the children left burning while they slept. In another incident in Dabani Secondary School in Busia, a dormitory caught fire and a lot of property was lost. Again the cause of the fire was a candle. In March 2006, seven children of Kabarole Islamic School in Fort Portal perished when their dormitory burnt down as a result of a candle left burning.
Many other similar incidents go unreported. With the current energy crisis in the country and the general poverty among the population, there is need for urgent intervention to prevent such loss of lives. Local leaders at the grassroots need to sensitise the people about the use of candles, particularly where children are involved. Where possible, candles should not be used at all. Also discouraged should be the use of tadoobas (wick candles) because they are equally dangerous.
The Government should think seriously about mass importation of lanterns at very subsidised prices and reducing the price of paraffin. The Police Fire Brigade also needs to be facilitated to respond to fire outbreaks immediately. This means there should be a reasonable number of fire-trucks with fuel and staff on standby.