3
SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 1979
FIRE HAZARDS UNDER CLOSE WATCH
*****
MEMBERS OF THE RECENTLY-FORMED FIRE WATCH PATROLS ARE NOW ON LOOKOUT POST DUTY IN THE EVENING IN SQUATTER AND RURAL VILLAGES THROUGHOUT HONG KONG.
THE PATROLS ARE VOLUNTARY BODIES FORMED UNDER THE FIRE WATCH SCHEME IN THE CURRENT FIRE PREVENTION CAMPAIGN. IN THE INITIAL STAGE, IT IS DIRECTED MAINLY AT SQUATTER AND RURAL VILLAGES TO ELIMINATE THE DANGER OF FIRE OUTBREAKS IN THESE AREAS.
IN GENERAL, THE PATROLS COMPRISE LOCAL RESIDENTS WHO PATROL THEIR OWN AREAS ESPECIALLY DURING DRY SEASONS TO MONITOR CLOSELY THE ENVIRONMENT AND TO ELIMINATE FIRE HAZARDS AND OBSTRUCTIONS TO PASSAGEWAYS.
IF NECESSARY, THE PATROLS WILL REFER CASES TO THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR INFORMATION OR ASSISTANCE. THE DEPARTMENT WILL ALSO HELP THE TEAMS TO ORGANISE FIRE DRILLS AND TO IMPART PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES.
IN THE EVENT OF FIRE, THE TEAMS WILL REPORT PROMPTLY TO THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT. THEY ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR ALERTING THE RESIDENTS AND ASSISTING IN EVACUATION,
WHERE VILLAGES COVER A LARGE AREA, THE SCHEME WILL OPERATE ON A DIVISIONAL SYSTEM UNDER THE CO-ORDINATION OF A CENTRAL LEADERSHIP. THE TEAM LEADERS ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR DRAWING UP DUTY ROSTERS, AND MORE IMPORTANT, TO WORK OUT EMERGENCY MEASURES SUCH AS PLANNING FIRE ESCAPE ROUTES, INSTALLING FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT AND ALARM SYSTEMS.
APART FROM THE ADVICE AND GUIDANCE GIVEN BY THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICES AND DISTRICT OFFICES, THE PATROLS ALSO RECEIVED KEEN SUPPORT FROM THE FIRE PREVENTION PUBLICITY COMMITTEE WHICH HELPED TO EQUIP THE TEAMS WITH GONGS FIRE EXTINGUISHERS AND OTHER FIRE FIGHTING APPARATUS.
↓
IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR COMMITMENT, THE FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU OF THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS ALSO ASSIGNED FIRE OFFICERS TO VISIT THE VILLAGES AND SQUATTER AREAS TO BRIEF THE RESIDENTS ON GENERAL PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES AND DEMONSTRATE THE PROPER USE OF FIRE-FIGHTING EQUIPMENT.
+THE JOINT EFFORT OF THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PUBLIC ADDS A NEW DIMENSION TO OUR FIRE PREVENTION CAMPAIGN,+ A SPOKESMAN FOR THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID.
+NOW THAT THE FIRE WATCH SCHEME HAS GOT OFF TO A GOOD START, WE HOPE IT WILL GRADUALLY BE EXTENDED TO OTHER AREAS AS WELL
AS TO MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS. I BELIEVE EVENTUALLY THIS CONCERTED EFFORT WILL HELP TO CURB THE UNNECESSARY LOSS OF PROPERTY AND LIVES DUE TO FIRE.+