Avoid Fire Accidents Switch off Electrical Gadgets
By Khairunnisa Ibrahim

Bandar Seri Begawan - Electrical faults are the most common cause of house and building fires, most of which could have been avoided by taking care to turn off appliances when not in use, a Fire and Rescue Department official said.

Last year, 60 cases of burning houses and buildings had been reported, causing damage amounting to $2.57 million. Meanwhile, 2005 recorded $8.32 million worth of damages from a combined 89 cases of residences and buildings affected by fire, according to the department's statistics.

Some accidents were caused by carelessness, such as when a pot is left unattended on the stove or an iron left switched on long after use, said the head of the department's Investigation Division, Pg Hj Roslan Pg Hj Halos.

"In one interesting case, we found that fire at one residence was caused by a hand phone charger, which had some electrical fault," he related.

Electrical faults could also occur with various appliances, such as fluorescent lamps and air conditioning, often generated from low quality and cheap foreign products, whose safety standards were inadequate, said Pg Hj Roslan.

Overloading of one electrical socket with numerous appliances could also result in fires, said Dk Noor Faridahwati, an officer from the division.

In the case of government buildings, Pg Haji Roslan explained that some fires occur because the equipment used were kept switched on for 24 hours a day. Once the appliances overheated or is short-circuited, they could lead to a fire.

Once a spark or a flame is created, it can be exacerbated and spread easily by the presence of combustible materials around the home or building. These include materials like carpets, bed sheets, curtains and papers.

Dk Noor Faridahwati recalled that in one government building fire case the division responded to, they found combustible materials stacked undernearth an air conditioning unit that had shorted, which helped to spread the fire.

Pg Hj Roslan cautioned the public to take precaution by making sure that all appliances were switched off before leaving a room or a building.

"Advise the maids to be careful and vigilant in their duties around the house, including not leaving anything cooking unattended for too long," added Dk Faridah.

Pg Hj Roslan also suggested that the government sector devise a policy or system to ensure that all electrical appliances and utilities in the buildings were switched off after employees have ended their working day. Buildings and residences should also be equipped'' with fire extinguishers that would prove crucial in putting out small fires before they spread.

Building regulations require them to be furnished with fire, smoke and heat protection, including sensors, sprinklers and water hose rail, he said, but houses too should have some of them too.

"Homeowners can acquire fire protection equipment in specialist shops in the country. They should in particular get multipurpose fire extinguishers that can be used for different types of fires," he said. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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