Fire safety tips

FIRE EMERGENCY NUMBER: 044 801 6311
GENERAL EMERGENCY NUMBER: 044 801 6300

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR HOUSE IS ON FIRE
Stay low and under the smoke.
Make alarm and get everyone out of the house.
Close doors of rooms behind you as you move through and out of the house.
Phone the fire department when you are outside. (Save the fire department’s number on your phone – see above).

WHAT TO DO WHEN A HOUSE IS ON FIRE NEAR YOU
Phone the fire department. (Save the fire department’s number on your phone – see above).
Move cars and other obstacles out of the way so fire trucks can pass.
Do not carry furniture into the road where it can be in the way of fire trucks and firefighters.
Do not go into the burning house for any reason.
Do not open the doors or break windows – it fuels the fire.

FIRE SAFETY: WHEN IT IS HOT OUT THERE
Please take precautions for fire conditions as follows:
Don’t make fires in the open and/or leave fires unattended.
Don’t throw cigarette butts out of cars or in the open veld.
Don’t throw bottles in the veld as they can magnify the sun’s rays and start fires.
In the case of a large fire report it immediately and move away from the area to let the professionals deal with it.
Never throw water onto a fire started by an electrical fault or fires started by oil or paraffin lamps – use sand or a blanket to smother the fire.
Check the radio, TV or social media for warnings and obey instructions from disaster management officers.

WINTER FIRE SAFETY TIPS
Do not overload electrical connections and plugs, use the plug for what it was made for.
Do not override the safety switch on your electrical board to avoid the electricity kicking out when you overload plugs.
Monitor plugs and check that they do not become hot.
Pull out cellphone and other chargers when you are not using them.
Do not carry drum and tin fires indoors.
Do not get into bed with a cigarette.
Put the electrical heater off before you fall asleep.
If you install a fireplace, use a reputable builder or installer and monitor new installations when in use. Have your fireplace and chimney serviced regularly.

FIRE SAFETY: ARE YOU PREPARED?
You can do the following things to make your household more prepared for a fire emergency:
Plan an evacuation plan and an evacuation route for your house. Share it with all the occupants.
Listen and look out for daily weather reports: if it’s going to be a dry, hot day, take precautions and act responsibly – make fires in protected and designated areas only, and dispose of cigarette butts safely.
Display a list of emergency phone numbers where everyone knows to look.
Make sure your property street number is visible from the road.
Be aware of places on your property that offer protection in times of fire, such as brick or concrete patios, swimming pools, brick or concrete driveways and concrete or stone walls that can deflect some of the heat of the fire.
Have fire extinguishers available and make sure they are working.
Keep important documents together and within easy reach should you be forced to evacuate. The same applies for essential medication.
Have a supply of drinking water available.