XN000022-1979-01-25 — Page 7

THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 1979

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MAJOR CAUSE OF FIRES

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ANOTHER RECORD HIGH NUMBER OF FIRES WERE REPORTED LAST YEAR, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE FIRE SERVICES SAID TODAY (THURSDAY),

THERE WERE 10,838 OUTBREAKS OF FIRE LAST YEAR COMPARED WITH 11,082 IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

THE SPOKESMAN ATTRIBUTED THE MAJOR CAUSE TO +SHEER CARELESSNESS+, AND BECAUSE OF THIS HABITUAL NEGLIGENCE, 29 PEOPLE WERE KILLED, 596 INJURED AND THOUSANDS MADE HOMELESS.

HE POINTED OUT THAT 25 PER CENT OF THE FIRES WERE CAUSED BY THE INDISCRIMINATE DISPOSING OF LIGHTED CIGARETTE ENDS, MATCHES AND JOSS STICKS.

FAULTY ELECTRICAL WIRING AND APPLIANCES, OVERHEATED ENGINES, OVERTURNED AND UNATTENDED COOKING STOVES, AND CHILDREN PLAYING WITH MATCHES WERE THE OTHER MAIN FACTORS.

+ALL THESE FIRES COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF PEOPLE EXERCISED A LITTLE MORE CAUTION AND HEEDED SOME SIMPLE PREVENTION RULES,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

HE STRESSED THAT FIRES NOT ONLY COST MONEY BUT MORE IMPORTANT, LIVES.

NOTING THAT THERE HAS BEEN A LARGE PROPORTION OF FIRES BREAKING OUT IN DOMESTIC PREMISES, HE URGED HOUSEHOLDERS TO HANDLE THEIR FUEL, MATCHES, JOSS STICKS, AND OTHER INFLAMMABLE MATERIAL WITH GREAT CARE AND TO CHECK THEIR ELECTRICAL WIRING AND APPLIANCES REGULARLY.

HE SAID SMOKERS COULD ALSO HELP REDUCE FIRE RISKS BY MAKING SURE THE IR LIGHTED CIGARETTE ENDS ARE EXTINGUISHED BEFORE DISCARDING THEM.

HE ALSO APPEALED TO BUILDING MANAGEMENTS AND FACTORY OPERATORS TO KEEP ALL FIRE SERVICE INSTALLATIONS IN THE IR PREMISES IN GOOD CONDITION, INSTANTLY AVAILABLE AND TO ENSURE THAT ALL ESCAPE ROUTES ARE CLEARED OF OBSTRUCTION.

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