CAPE TOWN - Cape Town’s fire and rescue service recorded fewer fire incidents in informal settlements in 2009 compared to previous years, the City said on Tuesday.
This was despite an increase in the number of shacks, which made it difficult for rescue services to access the areas quickly, it said.
The city’s fire chief, Ian Schnetler, said the number of responses in informal settlements decreased over the last year by 193 incidents and the number of affected shacks decreased by 832.
A total of 3780 shacks, out of approximately 84,000, were affected by fire in 2009, he said.
“If one takes into context the number of dwelling units affected in 2005, which was recorded at 8864, then the city has gone a long way in reducing this by more than half over the last four years,” said Schnetler.
The city’s rescue service received seven new fire engines with 4x4 capabilities late last year, which would help reach cramped informal settlements and mountainous areas, he said.
The main causes of these fires were said to be illegal use of electricity, heating and cooking devices malfunctioning and lighting of building materials.
The city said it was educating people on the danger of fires, and its disaster risk management department had distributed awareness pamphlets to the affected areas prior to the fire season.
The distribution of pamphlets was started by the department in October 2008.
These provided tips on how to reduce the risk of a fire starting.
Restriction on the making of open air fires had also been made across the Western Cape, due to extraordinary fire hazards, the municipality said.
This was despite an increase in the number of shacks, which made it difficult for rescue services to access the areas quickly, it said.
The city’s fire chief, Ian Schnetler, said the number of responses in informal settlements decreased over the last year by 193 incidents and the number of affected shacks decreased by 832.
A total of 3780 shacks, out of approximately 84,000, were affected by fire in 2009, he said.
“If one takes into context the number of dwelling units affected in 2005, which was recorded at 8864, then the city has gone a long way in reducing this by more than half over the last four years,” said Schnetler.
The city’s rescue service received seven new fire engines with 4x4 capabilities late last year, which would help reach cramped informal settlements and mountainous areas, he said.
The main causes of these fires were said to be illegal use of electricity, heating and cooking devices malfunctioning and lighting of building materials.
The city said it was educating people on the danger of fires, and its disaster risk management department had distributed awareness pamphlets to the affected areas prior to the fire season.
The distribution of pamphlets was started by the department in October 2008.
These provided tips on how to reduce the risk of a fire starting.
Restriction on the making of open air fires had also been made across the Western Cape, due to extraordinary fire hazards, the municipality said.
- Sapa - The Citizen
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