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Fire precautions in the home <h2 class="sectHeading">Basic fire prevention and safety </h2><p>Most house fires are caused by lack of thought or concentration. Smoking cigarettes or using matches, lighters, candles, heating appliances and equipment such as electric blankets can all cause fires if not carefully monitored.</p><div class="notification with-heading dark-copy pink bg-light-grey"><div class="graphic with-border"> <i class="info note"></i> </div><div class="desc"><h4>Please note</h4><p>Any fires should be reported to the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre as soon as possible by dialing <strong> <em>107 </em></strong> from a landline or <em> <a>021 480 7700</a></em> from a cellphone.<br><br> Please report damaged fire hydrants and equipment to our Call Centre on <em> <a>0860 103 089</a></em>.</p></div></div><p>Here are some tips for fire prevention and safety in the home:</p><ul><li>Keep matches and lighters out of children’s reach.</li><li>Cut candles in half to prevent them falling over – and use a candle holder.</li><li>Do not smoke in bed!</li><li>If you can afford it, keep a fire extinguisher in your home; maintain it annually and learn how to use it.</li><li>Keep a bucket of sand in the kitchen if you don’t have an extinguisher; throwing sand over a small fire, especially oil, can help contain it before it gets out of control.</li><li>Keep a garden hose rolled up and ready in case of fire.</li><li>Where possible, have more than one exit point from your house.</li><li>Make an escape plan that the whole family knows about and can follow – see our <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Forms%2c%20notices%2c%20tariffs%20and%20lists/Pages%20from%20Job_NO._2592_Fire_Safety_HOME_CHECKLIST_Eng.pdf" target="_blank">Fire Safety: Home Checklist</a>.</li><li> Do not park in the way of a fire hydrant.</li></ul><h2 class="sectHeading">Preventing shack fires</h2><p>Shack fires are very hard to control and can have devastating consequences for residents of informal settlements. </p><p>Pay attention to these basic tips and help control the risk:</p><ul><li>Keep a close eye on paraffin stoves.</li><li>Don't cook near a window with a curtain.</li><li>Make sure the stove doesn't fall over, which may burn children or cause a fire. Make sure cooking fires are put out properly.</li><li>Make sure candles are secure and can't fall over.</li><li>Don't go to sleep or leave the house with candles or gas lamps still burning.</li><li>Don’t smoke in bed!</li><li>Teach children about the dangers of fire.</li><li>Teach children not to play with matches or lighters – store these items out of their reach.</li><li>Make sure cigarette butts are put our properly before disposing of them.</li><li>Be aware of the dangers of illegal and faulty electricity connections, which also cause fires.</li><li>Keep a bucket handy to fill with water so that you can extinguish flames easily.</li><li>Keep a bucket of sand to put out paraffin fires.</li><li>Build shacks a good distance (at least 3m) apart to prevent fires from spreading; make sure this space is kept open.</li><li>Keep roads and access to shacks clear at all times.</li><li>Do not block roads with the shack’s belongings when there is a fire.</li><li>Do not prevent or disturb the work of fire crews fighting fires.</li></ul><div class="notification with-heading dark-copy pink bg-light-grey"><div class="graphic with-border"> <i class="info remember"></i> </div><div class="desc"><h4>Remember</h4><p>If a fire breaks out and looks like it will get out of hand, call emergency services immediately – <strong> <em>107</em></strong> from a landline or <em> <a>021 480 7700</a></em> from a cellphone – and make sure you give the correct address and if possible, a landmark nearby (like a shop or school). Don’t wait too long as fires can spread very quickly, especially in informal settlements.</p></div></div><p>Download and print out our <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Graphics%20and%20educational%20material/Educational_Pamphlet_Informal_Settlements.pdf" target="_blank">Fire Safety in Informal Settlements pamphlet</a> and stick it onto your fridge so that everyone can learn. </p><h2 class="sectHeading">Burning garden waste </h2><p>Burning garden refuse is called ‘open burning’. Open burning is only allowed when preparing food or cooking, or if a burning permit has been issued by the City.</p> <span> <div class="notification with-heading white-copy yellow bg-darker-grey"><div class="graphic">​ <i class="info citycard">​​</i>​</div><div class="desc"><h4>City Connect</h4><p> <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Apply/Health-and-safety/Environmental-health/Apply-for-an-open-burning-permit">Apply for an open burning permit</a></p></div></div></span> <h2 class="sectHeading">Fire safety checklist</h2><p>Be prepared. Take time to go through the checklist we have compiled to make sure you are doing everything you can do to protect your own life and that of your family’s from home fires.</p><p> <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Forms%2c%20notices%2c%20tariffs%20and%20lists/Pages%20from%20Job_NO._2592_Fire_Safety_HOME_CHECKLIST_Eng.pdf" target="_blank">Fire safety: Home checklist (English) </a> <br> <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Forms%2c%20notices%2c%20tariffs%20and%20lists/Pages%20from%20Job_NO._2592_Fire_Safety_HOME_CHECKLIST_Afr.pdf" target="_blank">Fire safety: Home checklist (Afrikaans)</a><br><a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Forms%2c%20notices%2c%20tariffs%20and%20lists/Pages%20from%20Job_NO._2592_Fire_Safety_HOME_CHECKLIST_Xho.pdf" target="_blank">Fire safety: Home checklist (isiXhosa)</a></p><p>Answer questions about how you position your heaters, how you cook, whether or not you have a fire extinguisher, what kind of gas supply you use, and how you protect your children from hot water burns. </p><h2 class="sectHeading">Fire services and inspections</h2><p> City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Service provides advice and support to residents, business, industry and local government on: </p><ul><li>building inspections;</li><li>fire equipment maintenance; and</li><li>using and storing dangerous goods.</li></ul><p>Requests for an inspection must be in writing and addressed to the relevant fire safety office.</p><div class="notification with-heading white-copy yellow bg-darker-grey"><div class="graphic">​ <i class="info citycard">​​</i>​</div><div class="desc"><h4>City Connect</h4><p> <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Request-a-service/Request-an-inspection/Request-a-fire-inspection">Request a fire inspection</a></p></div></div><p> For more information on how to fight fires, contact our <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Departments/Fire%20and%20Rescue%20Service%20Department">Fire and Rescue Service </a>or one our Fire & Life Safety Education Officers on <em> <a>021 444 3500</a></em> or via <em> <a href="mailto:lifesafety@capetown.gov.za">lifesafety@capetown.gov.za</a></em>. If you have a specific need or enquiry, get in touch with a <a href="https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/see-all-city-facilities/our-service-facilities/Fire%20stations/">fire station in your area</a>. </p>GP0|#097d83e9-b475-4dd6-a08c-8d9235f86bb7;L0|#0097d83e9-b475-4dd6-a08c-8d9235f86bb7|Fire precautions in the home;GTSet|#ef3a64a2-d764-44bc-9d69-3a63d3fadea1;GPP|#4fd38f14-3493-49a2-ac32-47bb5287df33;GPP|#df0a3405-0ca1-4617-8047-15a034219fee;GPP|#245ec7aa-a528-4cd3-bcac-597c292db711These important tips will help you prevent fires from happening in your home, and hurting you or your loved ones.

 

 

Fire Safety in Informal Settlements Pamphlet1880590GP0|#367c7831-4239-4ad6-824a-c4325897c033;L0|#0367c7831-4239-4ad6-824a-c4325897c033|Pamphlet;GTSet|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP|#5340fe0b-73a7-472c-bef7-04e450fb5c4f;GPP|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e2019-02-11T22:00:00Z
Fire Safety: Home Checklist (Eng/Afr/Xhosa)772543GP0|#b3896df4-644b-4d57-8680-4e0e4a99c02e;L0|#0b3896df4-644b-4d57-8680-4e0e4a99c02e|Checklist;GTSet|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP|#3a03f9b9-d2e9-49b1-92e1-37b654747f82;GPP|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e2015-12-31T22:00:00Z
Fire safety: Home checklist (Afrikaans)264170GP0|#b3896df4-644b-4d57-8680-4e0e4a99c02e;L0|#0b3896df4-644b-4d57-8680-4e0e4a99c02e|Checklist;GTSet|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP|#3a03f9b9-d2e9-49b1-92e1-37b654747f82;GPP|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e2016-11-24T22:00:00Z
Fire safety: Home checklist (English)269246GP0|#b3896df4-644b-4d57-8680-4e0e4a99c02e;L0|#0b3896df4-644b-4d57-8680-4e0e4a99c02e|Checklist;GTSet|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP|#3a03f9b9-d2e9-49b1-92e1-37b654747f82;GPP|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e2016-11-24T22:00:00Z
Fire safety: Home checklist (isiXhosa)262048GP0|#b3896df4-644b-4d57-8680-4e0e4a99c02e;L0|#0b3896df4-644b-4d57-8680-4e0e4a99c02e|Checklist;GTSet|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP|#3a03f9b9-d2e9-49b1-92e1-37b654747f82;GPP|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e2016-11-24T22:00:00Z
Junior Marshals Fire Comic Series8828198GP0|#f10f836d-5770-43e9-a733-7b3eee03d477;L0|#0f10f836d-5770-43e9-a733-7b3eee03d477|Infographic;GTSet|#f1e8889f-f7d7-4d5b-a3f5-af0ca2e076ea;GPP|#5340fe0b-73a7-472c-bef7-04e450fb5c4f;GPP|#0972c695-fd19-46c4-ab5d-9601f17b780e2019-04-09T06:00:00Z

 

 

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