The National Fire Authority (NFA) is urging the members of the community to change their mindset and attitude towards fire safety and support NFA in reducing the number of fire incidents in 2015.

In spite of NFA conducting more awareness programs and getting more trucks in 2014, NFA has attended to 140 structural fires last year when compared to 120 in 2013.

“This huge increase in the number of structural fires in 2014 is a great concerned. This year NFA has set its focus in reducing the number of structural fires and in order to achieve this ambitious target, we need the support of the members of the community,” NFA CEO John O’Connor said.

“Members of the community must change their mindset and attitude towards fire safety and regard fire safety as one of their important responsibility and accountability.

“Every home owner must accept responsibility and accountability for the fire safety of their property and their family members.

“We can eliminate and reduce fire incidents but we need the support of the members of community to assist us in our campaign in keeping our communities a fire safe,” Mr O’Connor said. “In 2014 as a result of the 140 structural fires, four (4) lives were lost. This clearly illustrate that we are not taking fire safety seriously. Any life lost as a result of a fire is not acceptable since it can not be replaced and we are urging all the members of the community to change their mindset and attitude towards fire safety. The effects of a fire is devastating and we as a society must give it the due respect and take the time to discuss fire safety in our families, communities, settlements and villages.

Mr O’Connor also raised NFA’s concern in relation to home fires which continue to happen from the unattended cooking, candles/prayer diyas, mosquito coils left and children playing with matches.” Fifty one percent of the property fires are attributed to such cases which can be attributed to carelessness.

“All these fires could have been avoided had those responsible and accountable took extra care. We shouldn’t assume that a fire will not happen to us or our families as a fire can happen to anyone at any time if we do not respect the possible causes of fires.

“NFA will vigorously conduct awareness programs this year. We target to visit schools, settlements and villages with the emphasis of giving out relevant advice and information to the members of the community to make them aware of the devastating effects of fires which we hope will drive a change of attitude and mindset.

“We are urging families, settlements, villages and communities to contact their nearest fire station to arrange such awareness programs”, Mr O’Connor added.