21 Feb 2013

Whether false or not, fire alarms should be responded to, officials have warned.

A station fire officer at Gaborone City Council, Mr Moagi Ramatu said in an interview that they had realised that in most government offices and some private premises, people ignored fire alarms especially if they went off frequently.

A snap survey in some government offices in Gaborone revealed that people did not respond to fire alarms.

In some cases, Mr Ramatu said, repeated false fire alarms caused people to ignore them, which could lead to loss of property or death if they turned out to be real. Mr Ramatu stressed that all fire alarms should be responded to because it was difficult to know which one was not real.

He explained that it was vital for occupants to vacate the building upon hearing fire alarm or other signals and to gather at the fire assembly points until the fire brigade arrives to confirm whether or not the alarm was faulty.

He said after the fire brigade had checked the building to satisfy themselves that there was no fire, the people gathered at the fire assembly point are informed that it is safe to  enter the building.

The fire officer explained that before the fire alarm sounds, there has to be smoke as a fire can start when carbon-based material (fuel), mixed with oxygen is heated to a point where flammable vapours are produced.

The vapours could then come into contact with something hot enough to cause vapour ignition, resulting in fire which then triggers the fire detection units.

Mr Ramatu said when the fire or smoke detection senses the fire, it triggers the fire detection sprinklers which automatically triggers the alarm bell.

He appealed to Batswana to buy fire extinguishers and fire blankets for their homes to help them during emergencies.  ENDS