The Minister of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs, Seraphine Mukantabana has advised business owners to insure their businesses against risks associated with fire outbreaks.
The Minister said that fire outbreaks lead to enormous economic loses and sometimes loss of lives.
“Most fire disasters can be avoided if people are cautious, listen and follow guidelines provided by experts in dealing with potential causes,” she said
She urged property owners to take precaution and acquire portable fire extinguishers which can be used in emergency situations before the arrival of professional fire fighters.
Minister Mukantabana further asked the business community and individual households to take insurance cover for their facilities against risks in case of such disasters.
She also commended the Rwanda National Police (RNP) efforts to fight and prevent fire outbreak.
The Minister was speaking yesterday in Prime economic zone in Masoro, Gasabo District to launch the campaign against fire outbreak, said that measures taken including community awareness and increasing its response capabilities protect Rwandans against disasters.
The campaign is inline with the Police Week.
Present at the function was the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Emmanuel K. Gasana and the Mayor of the City of Kigali Pascal Nyamulinda.
Mayor Nyamulinda advised against to seek help from professional electricians for installations and avoid using substandard electrical equipment.
The Commanding Officer for the RNP Fire and Rescue Brigade, Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACP) Jean Baptiste Seminage, while speaking at the same occasion, noted that most causes of fire outbreaks investigated have been predominantly caused by poor or illegal electric installations, overloading the system, and unattended candles in homes.
He, however, said that today RNP has increased its capacity and skills to put out any fires reported, on time.
The force currently has firefighting trucks stationed at the regional level with plans to acquire more to be stationed at the district level.
As part of the response to fire, RNP and the City of Kigali also established water hydrants in strategic parts of the city for easy access to water sources need to put out fire.