MONDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1979
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FIREMEN RESPOND TO NEARLY 80 FIRE CALLS A DAY
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THE FIRE SERVICES RESPONDED TO 556 FIRE CALLS IN THE FIRST SEVEN DAYS OF THIS MONTH - AN AVERAGE OF NEARLY 80 A DAY.
THESE INCLUDED 11 NO. 3 ALARM FIRES AND ONE NO. 5 ALARM, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE FIRE SERVICES SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
THE SPOKESMAN APPEALED TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO EXERCISE MORE CARE TO AVOID FIRE RISKS BECAUSE OF THE CURRENT EXTREMELY DRY WEATHER.
+SMOKERS SHOULD PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO SEE THAT ALL CIGARETTE ENDS ARE EXTINGUISHED BEFORE DISPOSAL, SAID THE SPOKESMAN.
HE ALSO ADVISED HOUSEWIVES TO TAKE EXTRA CARE WITH THE IR KEROSENE STOVES AND IN THE HANDLING OF LP GAS CYLINDERS.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE NUMBER OF HILL FIRES ALSO ROSE SHARPLY IN THE PAST WEEK, PARTICULARLY DURING THE MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL PERIOD.
HE SAID FIREMEN TACKLED A TOTAL OF 247 HILL FIRES OF WHICH 163 OCCURRED IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THE SPOKESMAN ALSO URGED PICNICKERS AND HOLIDAY-MAKERS TO TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTION AGAINST THE OUTBREAK OF FIRE WHEN VISITING THE COUNTRYSIDE,
MEANWHILE, IN A GENERAL SCHOOLS CIRCULAR, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT APPEALED TO ALL HEADS OF SCHOOLS TO IMPRESS ON THEIR STUDENTS THE IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING THE COUNTRYSIDE FROM DAMAGE BY FIRE WHEN THEY GO PICNICKING.
+THE RISK OF FIRE IS GREATER AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR BECAUSE OF THE LOW HUMIDITY. STUDENTS SHOULD ENSURE THAT LIGHTED MATCHES AND PICNIC FIRES ARE PROPERLY EXTINGUISHED BEFORE LEAVING ANY PICNIC SPOT,+ A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT EMPHASISED.
+HILL FIRES BURN VALUABLE TREES, VEGETATION AND WILD LIFE AND SOMETIMES DESTROY HUMAN LIFE AND PROPERTY. A HILLSIDE CAN BE BURNT IN HOURS BUT RESTORATION OF A PROPER VEGETATION COVER WILL TAKE YEARS, HE ADDED.
THE DEPARTMENT ALSO FOCUSED ATTENTION ON THE PROBLEM OF LITTERING.
+LITTER RUINS OUR ENVIRONMENT. IT SPOILS THE BEAUTY OF A PLACE AND POLLUTES WATER SUPPLIES. STUDENTS SHOULD CLEAR UP ALL LITTER AND RUBBISH AFTER BARBECUES AND PICNICS AND DISPOSE OF THEM AT PROPER PLACES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
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