Vote for song
Merge 104.8 | 18 June 2020
This time of year, high summer temperatures and an increased use of electricity and propane cylinders can elevate the risk of house fires. It’s an equation that becomes exacerbated as a majority of people continue to work remotely from home amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
As per Oman’s Public Authority for Civil Defence and Ambulance (PACDA), there a many common factors that can cause a house fire to break out, including:
1. Improperly-closed valves on cooking-gas cylinders.
2. Using household decorations that contain flammable materials.
3. The piling-up of improperly-stored items whose boxes may catch fire.
4. Children playing with lighters or match-sticks. `
5. Smoking and the disposal of used cigarettes on top of items that may be flammable.
6. Not placing appropriate protective metal barriers below frankincense burners in the home.
7. Forgetting, or leaving food on the stove with an open flame.
Preventive measures recommended by PACDA to reduce instances of these kinds of fires taking place in the home are:
1. Install functioning smoke detectors throughout the house, and ensure that a CO2 fire extinguisher and a fire blanket are kept on-hand in the residence.
2. Ensure that materials used in home decor or decorations meet safety standards and are not flammable.
3. Refrain from stacking improperly-stored items in the home that could catch fire, and make sure to separate chemical materials and store them away from direct sunlight or heat.
4. Keep an eye on young children in the home to make sure they are kept away from any potential hazards.
5. Make sure that easily-flammable equipment or materials are kept out of reach from children.
6. Ensure that protective metal barriers are kept under frankincense burners in the home at all times during use.
7. Make sure that food is not left on the stove without paying attention to it.
When it comes to the prevalence of electrical fires in the home, PACDA identifies the following main causes of these kinds of fires to be the following:
1. Overloading power-bars or sockets with too many plugs/cables which can cause a surge in voltage.
2. Leaving electronic devices on for long periods of time which can lead to over-heating.
3. Not maintaining electronic equipment properly.
4. Hiring people who are unqualified as electricians to install and maintain electric panels, switches, or wall cables in the home.
5. Using equipment and electric devices that do not meet proper standards of safety.
To ensure the safety of all in the home, PACDA recommends the following measures to help reduce the likelihood of an electrical fire occurring:
1. Make sure to use standard plugs in accordance with their voltage capacity and do not attempt to overload them.
2. Make sure to shut down all electronic devices properly after use and turn off their power supply.
3. Adhere to the upkeep of all electronic devices in the home with regular annual maintenance.
4. Ensure that only service providers who are qualified to do electrical maintenance are hired for relevant installation work inside the home.
5. Make sure that all electronic devices purchased in the home are of a good standard of quality.
(Also read: Plans underway to develop iconic landmark unique to Oman.)
