Fire and Emergency Services department issues advisory for winter months to prevent fire incidents

STC NEWS DESK
SRINAGAR, OCTOBER 14 (STC): Emphasizing vigilance to prevent avoidable tragedies caused by domestic fires that typically rise during winter, an advisory has been issues by the Directorate of Fire and Emergency Services, Jammu and Kashmir, to guide people to the safety. The department has urged the public to adopt strict safety measures while using electrical heating gadgets, Kangris, and LPG appliances.
The advisory highlighting a series of preventive steps for households and commercial establishments, cautions people to ensure that all electrical heating devices, including room heaters, Bukharis, and LPG stoves, are properly switched off before leaving home or going to bed.
The department advises people to keep Kangris, a traditional Kashmiri firepot, in safe places at night to avoid accidental toppling and subsequent fires. Residents have also been urged not to store dry grass, wood, or other flammable materials inside or near their homes, as such materials can easily fuel fires.
The public should avoid using faulty or substandard electrical appliances, defective blankets, or high-wattage heaters, all of which can trigger short circuits, reads the advisory.
It recommends using high-quality fuses and miniature circuit breakers (MCBs) with proper earthing to prevent electrical hazards. Besides, people should stay in the kitchen while cooking and to switch off LPG stoves and cylinders immediately after use. Adequate ventilation should be ensured when operating LPG heaters.
The advisory also reminds locals not to discard lit cigarette butts carelessly and to keep all escape routes and water access points clear, especially in densely populated residential and market areas.

“In case of any fire emergency, citizens should immediately contact the nearest fire station or call the Fire & Emergency Services helpline,” the department said. The toll-free emergency number 101 and control room numbers for Srinagar (0194-2452155, 2452222) and Jammu (0191-2457705, 2435283) have been made available for prompt assistance.
(Straight Talk Communications)