The Ministry in Charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA) has issued a call for public vigilance to prevent deadly fire outbreaks during the dry season.
Christine Niyotwambaza Hitimana, the officer responsible for surveillance and preparedness at the ministry, highlighted that fire outbreaks can arise from various causes, including faulty electrical installations, human negligence, and natural disasters.
She stressed the significant role human error plays in causing fires, citing careless smoking, leaving stoves unattended, and improper disposal of flammable materials as common issues.
“Negligence in adhering to fire safety protocols can significantly contribute to the ignition and spread of fires,” Hitimana stated.
Additional causes of fire incidents include careless smoking and the burning of crop residues, grasslands, or bushes.
Hitimana emphasized, “The public must be vigilant and minimize these errors, especially during the dry season.”
The ministry also raised concerns about the insufficient availability of fire extinguishers in secondary cities, underlining the necessity for comprehensive fire safety measures.
Recent incidents, such as a fire in Bugoyi Cell, Gisenyi Sector, Rubavu town, caused substantial property damage. Superintendent of Police Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police Spokesperson for the Western Region, reported that the fire likely started from a gas cylinder placed near a charcoal stove.
The Bugoyi Cell fire affected several houses and destroyed household items.
Twizere advised that “cooking gas cylinders should be kept in well-ventilated areas, away from heat sources and charcoal stoves.”
Residents in affected areas like Musanze and Rubavu towns acknowledged the need for greater education on fire safety measures.
Anna Uwamariya, a resident of Rubavu, noted, “You find people using cooking gas without understanding its dangers or knowing how to extinguish a fire in case of an incident.”