WHAT DOES THE ETHEKWINI FIRE AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT DO?
Saves lives, property and helps communities by:
- Extinguishing fires.
- Rescuing people and animals from danger
- Preventing fires and associated dangerous conditions
- Assisting in preventing further loss after emergencies
WHAT TO DO WHEN A FIRE STARTS.
- Get out of the structure on fire
- Call the fire brigade (031 361 0000)
- Do not go back into the structure
- Wait for the arrival of the fire brigade and direct them to the fire.
- Attempt to extinguish the fire if you can do safely – DONT put yourself at risk.
HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE YOUR HOUSE ADDRESS
Speak slowly and clearly and tell the operator:
- What is burning
- Your address: town/suburb/street/house number/cross road and well known features such as schools, churches, shopping centres, police stations.
- Whether anyone has been burnt or injured
WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE BURNT?
- If your clothes fire: Stop running, drop to the ground, and roll on the ground.
- How to treat a burn injury: Apply cold water to the entire burnt area and if possible put the burnt area under water
- Get medical help
WHY DO FIRES START?
- People usually start fires – mostly by accident!
- Keep heat sources (heaters, candles, stoves, cooking fires, matches) away from combustible materials (bedding, clothes, curtains, cushions, carpets, paraffin, gas)
- Overloading electrical circuits or appliances
- Faulty electrical circuits or appliances
- Food left on the stove unattended
- Improper use of flammable liquids, gas
- Candles and paraffin stoves being knocked over.