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Fires on the increase

The latest (2008) National fire statistics released by The Fire Protection Association of Southern Africa show a big increase in industrial fires.

A summary of the statistics reveal:

* 1% of Gross National Income is lost to fire.

* The losses are greater than the previous year due to industry fires.

* The highest fire losses in industry sectors were chemical, food and drink, milling and petroleum resulting in R1,2 billion lost.

* Most formal dwelling fire calls were due to electrical causes.

* There were 3279 informal dwelling fires caused by open flames in 1000 cases causing the highest amount of deaths.

* Brigade calls were highest in eThekwini Unicity municipality with 11 077 callouts, followed by Cape Town Metro Council, Tshwane Metro Municipality and Johannesburg EMS.

* Formal residential fire loss amounted to approximately R420 million followed by informal with R76 million.

* Residential losses were down by 11,9% while industrial loss was up 231% caused mainly by chemical fires.

* Of the 35 423 fire calls, 67% were time consuming fires involving grass and bush.

* Cars and motorcycles accounted for 1808 fire brigade calls.

Many of these fires could have been prevented by fire drills, smoke detection systems, correct placement and servicing of extinguishers, and knowledge of what to do in an emergency fire situation.

MD, Jan Fritz, said that there should be a fire extinguisher in every home and vehicle in order to prevent fire loss.

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