Staff of the Bishop’s Office and a number of students have been urged to take a proactive role in preventing fire outbreaks rather than waiting for emergency rescue services to respond after incidents occur.
The call was made during a fire safety awareness workshop facilitated by SP Moses Muhanguzi, the Regional Fire Prevention and Rescue Officer for Greater Kigezi. The workshop was attended by staff members and students from Canon Beatrice Ruhindi Skills Training Institute at the Institute’s premises.
While addressing participants, SP Muhanguzi highlighted the leading causes of fire outbreaks, including arson (intentional fire setting), electrical faults resulting from overloaded appliances, unattended electrical equipment, poor wiring, loose electrical connections, negligence such as smoking and improper use of lighters, unsafe cooking methods, uncontrolled burning, using mobile phones while charging, gas leakages, and accidental causes such as heat waves, lightning, wild birds, and spontaneous ignition from heaps of coffee husks.
He also explained the various stages of fire, namely the infant stage, where a fire has just started; the free-burning stage, where the fire spreads and becomes difficult to control; and the smouldering stage, where burning continues slowly with little or no visible flame.
SP Muhanguzi emphasized the importance of preventive measures, noting that fire can spread rapidly and cause extensive damage if not detected and controlled early. He encouraged participants to regularly inspect electrical installations, correct loose connections, avoid using mobile phones while charging, and ensure that gas cylinders are properly secured.
He further advised offices, institutions, and vehicle owners to acquire fire extinguishers and regularly check their expiry dates to ensure they remain effective in case of emergencies. He also encouraged offices and institutions to keep buckets of sand at strategic locations as an additional fire-fighting measure.
The Regional Fire Officer urged participants to always identify the cause and type of fire before attempting to extinguish it, explaining that different types of fires require different methods of control. He further called upon the public to promptly contact fire and rescue services whenever a fire outbreak occurs.
SP Muhanguzi cautioned against first calling politicians during fire emergencies, noting that fire incidents are not political matters and require immediate professional intervention.
He observed that many people delay to contact the Police Fire Prevention and Rescue Services and only do so when the fire has already spread and become difficult to contain. He therefore encouraged the public to prioritize alerting rescue teams as soon as a fire breaks out in order to save lives and property.
Speaking at the close of the workshop, the Bishop of North Kigezi Diocese, The Rt. Rev. Onesimus Asiimwe, expressed appreciation to SP Muhanguzi for taking the initiative to educate the public on fire prevention and safety.
Bishop Asiimwe thanked the officer for moving beyond his office responsibilities to create awareness among the community.
Referring to Hosea 4:6, Bishop Onesimus noted that people often suffer due to a lack of knowledge and emphasized the importance of continuous public sensitization on safety measures that can help prevent fire outbreaks and save lives and property.
