FIREWISE YOU CAN USE
10 ::Tactical steps
Once you have assessed the fire risk and have taken physical steps to reduce the hazard, you must plan for a fire emergency. Decide whether to stay and defend your property, or evacuate. If you decide to evacuate your home, do so well before the fire approaches the area.A home is more likely to be saved if there are able-bodied people to quickly extinguish small fires on or near the house during a veldfire. But you need the proper equipment and you must be mentally and physically prepared to fight the fire.
11 ::If you choose to stay
- See to children, pets, and the old and infirm. It is best to evacuate them to a safe place well in advance, with able-bodied family members to defend the home.
- Prepare a kit of protective clothing and fire-fighting equipment. Goggles and a scarf over the nose and mouth helps reduce smoke inhalation. Ensure a co-operative effort to fight the fires.
- A fire-fighting kit would consist of ladders, mops, buckets, spray guns, heavy rubber fire beaters and garden hose.
- Identify a safe escape route and rendezvous point should the situation become dangerous. Burglar bars and safety gates can trap your family in the home, so be sure to consider these.
- Ensure that all household members know the plan and can carry it out.
- Ensure easy access and turning space for emergency vehicles.
- Check the periphery of your home for potential hazards - remove combustible vegetation and garden furniture.
- Use your sprinkler system to help soak the area. However, this is effective only when the fire is close by, as radiant heat accelerates evaporation if it is done too far in advance.
- Keep a fire extinguisher/s in the house. Bring the garden hose into the house. Do NOT spray water against the windows as they may crack or shatter.
- Once a fire is nearby, close all exterior openings and check the interior of your house for stray embers. Remove light curtains from window openings, but close heavy, lined curtains.
- Prepare an alternative source of water other than taps or fire hydrants like a bath of water, sinks, basins and buckets. Remember that the water pressure may reduce once the fire gets closer, due to other firefighting efforts.
- Plan for a breakdown in telecommunications and monitor your portable radio for updates.
- If you need to, escape from the side of the house furthest from the fire. Use heavy, wet blankets for shielding. Move to a safe, open area with limited fuel e.g. a carpark.
12 ::When the fire has passed through
After the fire has passed, it is safer to leave your home and deal with spot fires in the yard. Check the surrounding area for safety hazards, trees, electrical or telephone poles that may still be burning. Douse them with water, but avoid any water coming into contact with electrical wiring. Embers from smouldering fires could still be blown against the house and start it burning.
Remember that any fire-fighting equipment left outside may be damaged by the fire. Pumps, hoses and plastic-hose connectors on outside taps may have melted.
13 ::Talk to your local fire-safety officers
If you are unsure about the hazard situations around your home, phone your local Fire Safety Officers.
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