1
5
THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 1976
GRAVE SWEEPERS MUST BE CAREFUL WITH FIRE
*****
THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT TODAY APPEALED TO CHING MING WORSHIPPERS TO TAKE EVERY PRECAUTION TO GUARD AGAINST CAUSING FIRES WHEN VISITING THE COUNTRYSIDE DURING THE FESTIVAL PERIOD.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT POINTED OUT THAT DUE TO CARELESS HANDLING OF JOSS-STICKS, CANDLES AND BURNING PAPERS THE FESTIVAL MORE THAN OFTEN ENDED UP AS ONE OF THE WORST DAYS FOR FIRES.
+ALTHOUGH THE PRESENT WET AND HUMID WEATHER MAY HELP REDUCE THE FIRE RISKS, THE FACT THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE OUT TO THE RURAL AREAS PAYING HOMAGE TO THEIR ANCESTORS MEANS THE CHANCES OF FIRE
IN THESE AREAS WILL BECOME GREATER,+ HE NOTED.
+WE THEREFORE URGE ALL THOSE VISITING GRAVES OR THE COUNTRYS IDE DURING THE WEEKEND TO EXERCISE A LITTLE MORE CARE AND THOUGHT AND TO TAKE EVERY PRECAUTION TO PREVENT FIRES FROM BREAKING OUT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
HE ADVISED SMOKERS AND WORSHIPPERS TO MAKE SURE THAT CIGARETTE ENDS AND MATCHES WERE PROPERLY EXTINGUISHED BEFORE DISCARDING THEM AND TO SEE THAT ALL CANDLES, JOSS-STICKS AND BURNING PAPERS WERE TOTALLY OUT BEFORE LEAVING THE AREA.
MORE THAN 80 FIRES OCCURRED DURING THE FESTIVAL PERIOD LAST YEAR, ALMOST ONE-THIRD OF WHICH WERE GRASS FIRES RESULTING IN HUNDREDS OF TREES DESTROYED AND ACRES OF COUNTRYSIDE SPOILED.
16