The Sunday News
THE best way to deal with fire is to prevent it. Of late there have been a series of fire outbreaks with devastating results that include loss of life. They are preventable fires and in order for those fires to be prevented, people must be equipped with fire prevention techniques.
As Fire Prevention Zimbabwe, our core mandate is to ensure that people of Zimbabwe get the necessary literature on how fires can be prevented. People should understand the causes of fire and once that is achieved, they must also work on good housekeeping.
Turning to the elements that constitute a fire, these three elements are, heat, oxygen and fuel. These three elements can start a fire that can end up costing life. It is highly recommended that highly flammable gases or liquids be carried in a vehicle designed for such with all the required safety features. The drivers of those vehicles receive training and induction on fire prevention and in worse scenarios they are trained on how to survive the fire should their vehicles catch fire.
Buses and all passenger vehicles must always carry fire extinguishers which are in a perfect working condition so that they fight the fire should there be a small fire outbreak. Having experienced the recent fire incidents where lives were lost, it must be mandatory for all coach operations to go through some fire safety training as well as being taught on emergency preparedness and planning. This will assist the drivers and their assistants to evacuate passengers in a proper way and save life. Fire Prevention Zimbabwe has tailor-made such short courses for coach drivers and their assistants. Attending this course will assist in saving life when the fire breaks out.
Bus operators must ensure that the bus crew monitors each and every parcel that is being loaded into the coach. This will help them eliminate hazardous substances from being loaded.
Fire Prevention,
Zimbabwe.
