Rwanda National Police has launched a nationwide campaign to help communities prevent fires and respond to them before firefighters arrive, following a series of blazes that have damaged commercial buildings in recent weeks.
The campaign began in November and will run in districts across the country. Training sessions are planned at institutions and busy public places, including bus stations, churches, hotels, markets, garages and large buildings.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Paul Gatambira, head of the Fire and Rescue Brigade, said the campaign would teach people how fires start and spread, how to prevent them and how to use available equipment to respond.
“We want to strengthen cooperation with different groups so we can work together to fight fires,” Gatambira said. “In many cases, information reaches us late. If people nearby had been trained to use fire extinguishers and other equipment, they could take the first steps before we arrive.”
The goal, he said, is to equip residents with the knowledge to act while emergency services are on their way.
Rwanda National Police spokesperson ACP Boniface Rutikanga recently told RBA that firefighters can respond only after a fire has broken out. People at the scene, he said, should take initial steps to contain it, where it is safe to do so, and limit the damage before firefighters arrive.
“We do not want this to be the responsibility of the police alone,” Gatambira said. “We want residents to take part too. In many places, when people see a fire, they act as if it does not concern them and run away.”
Participants will learn about common causes of fires and how to prevent them. The training will also encourage people to use nearby fire-fighting equipment to tackle a blaze when it is safe, rather than simply fleeing.
Police are urging welders to keep fire extinguishers within reach. Developers and managers of commercial buildings, hotels, markets, garages and other busy venues are also being asked to install water supplies and piping that can be used to fight fires. Gatambira said ready access to water is essential, as fetching it from a distant source can cost valuable time during an emergency.
He also called on building managers to check that their fire extinguishers work properly and that enough are available.
The campaign follows several major fires reported in Rwanda since around mid-October. The most destructive was at GOICO market in Muhoza Sector, Musanze District, where goods valued at about Rwf 30 billion were destroyed, according to an assessment. Other recent fires in Kigali damaged factories in the city’s industrial zone.
