Alice Yhoshü
Most of us are oblivious to fire hazards and safety measures, and are thus, unprepared for fire incidents. Till such time it directly affects us, a fire is more often than less regarded as someone else’s problem. And when the flames light up in your domain, it is too late, and all that can be done is to minimise the damage it can cause.
Fire breakouts are unpredictable and they have varied origins, therefore, an aware and responsible public can contribute much in preventing major devastation to life and property, especially when weather conditions are dry.
For the Fire & Emergency Services, the dry and windy months of February, March and April are considered the most fire-prone time of the year.
According to fire-fighters, most house fires are triggered from electrical short circuit. This happens when the electrical wires/appliances have outlived their warranty and when connections are done by non-qualified persons or non-professionals. Another area of concern is the practice of storing LPG cylinders and stoves in the same room where there is a hearth, a feature present in many Naga household kitchens. Fire-fighters say the first safety rule for LPG users is to keep them in an area/room where there is proper ventilation.
They are also concerned that frequent devastative jungle wildfires are caused by the carelessness of hunters and picnickers as well as farmers who jhum hillsides to cultivate the areas, and fail to ensure that their fire trails are extinguished completely.
It is appalling that many people still tend to dismiss forest/jungle fires as mere unfortunate incidents and choose to remain ignorant of the impact of the loss of biodiversity on life and the ecosystem of the area.
Towards this end, while the nation gears up to observe the National Fire Service Day on April 14 and the weeklong Fire Services Week that follow with the first day of the week set aside for mass awareness campaigns on fire hazards and safety measures, there is a need for our own state Fire & Emergency Services to re-strategize towards creating more widespread and intensive awareness and conduct public education programmes, concentrating on the areas where fire incidents occurred more frequently in the recent times.
Every responsible citizen, on the other hand, must welcome the opportunity to learn preventive and safety measures imparted during such time so as to become an aware public, equipped with basic know how in responding effectively during fire breakouts. This will go a long way in saving precious lives, properties as well as the environment.
