The Rwanda National Police has initiated a nationwide campaign to educate communities on fire prevention and response, following a series of recent blazes that have caused significant damage to commercial buildings. The campaign, which began in November, will run in districts across the country, with training sessions planned at various institutions and public places.
The training sessions aim to equip residents with the knowledge to act in case of a fire while emergency services are on their way. Assistant Commissioner of Police Paul Gatambira, head of the Fire and Rescue Brigade, stated that the campaign would teach people how fires start and spread, how to prevent them, and how to use available equipment to respond.
The goal of the campaign is to strengthen cooperation between the police and different groups to fight fires effectively. Gatambira emphasized that in many cases, information about fires reaches the police late, and if people nearby had been trained to use fire extinguishers and other equipment, they could take the first steps before the police arrive.
Rwanda National Police spokesperson ACP Boniface Rutikanga highlighted that firefighters can only respond after a fire has broken out, and people at the scene should take initial steps to contain it, where it is safe to do so, and limit the damage before firefighters arrive. The police are urging welders to keep fire extinguishers within reach and developers and managers of commercial buildings to install water supplies and piping that can be used to fight fires.
The campaign follows several major fires reported in Rwanda since mid-October, including a destructive fire at GOICO market in Muhoza Sector, Musanze District, where goods valued at about Rwf 30 billion were destroyed. Other recent fires in Kigali damaged factories in the city’s industrial zone.
Gatambira stressed that ready access to water is essential during an emergency, as fetching it from a distant source can cost valuable time. He also called on building managers to check that their fire extinguishers work properly and that enough are available. Participants in the training will learn about common causes of fires and how to prevent them.
The police are encouraging people to use nearby fire-fighting equipment to tackle a blaze when it is safe, rather than simply fleeing. The campaign aims to equip residents with the knowledge to act while emergency services are on their way, and to promote a culture of fire safety and prevention across the country.
Key points
- The Rwanda National Police has launched a nationwide fire safety training campaign to prevent and respond to fires after recent blazes damaged commercial buildings.
- The campaign aims to equip residents with the knowledge to act in case of a fire while emergency services are on their way.
- The training sessions will cover topics such as common causes of fires, fire prevention, and the use of available equipment to respond to fires.
