Fire Agency Records Sharp Rise in House Fires, Drafts New Safety Rules
VICTORIA, Seychelles — The Seychelles Fire and Rescue Services Agency (SFRSA) recorded a sharp increase in house fire incidents and electrical fires over the past year, the agency said yesterday. Although the agency attended to a total of 320 incidents, a slight decrease of 2.41 percent compared to 2022, it attended to 40 building and domestic fires, and 20 electrical fires. The framing of the increase, against an overall fall in the number of incidents attended, is being read as a sign that prevention efforts need to focus more sharply on residential and electrical risks.
Assistant divisional officer and public relations officer of the SFRSA, Terence Arnephie, said that of the 40 building fire incidents, a significant proportion was in domestic dwellings, four of which were completely destroyed by the fires. The number of domestic fires stood at 14 in 2022, meaning an increase of over 40 percent over the past year. Similarly, only eight incidents of electrical fires were recorded in 2022. The decision to highlight domestic and electrical fires separately is being read as a recognition by the agency that these two categories account for a disproportionate share of the preventable incidents.
Mr Arnephie explained that the condition of some older homes can sometimes lead to electrical faults, but that there are also instances of negligence. The SFRSA, for this year, will be reaching out to the community, to intensify awareness and education among the general public, with a particular focus on residences. In a bid to establish the level of awareness among the population, the SFRSA intends to launch a survey, which will help to guide the awareness campaign, in close collaboration with partners including the Property Management Corporation (PMC) and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
According to records, there were in total 498 fire-related incidents last year, namely fires in buildings, vehicles, landfills, bushfires and electrical fires. Interestingly, the majority were for bushfires, with 89 calls in total over the year. As for non-fire related incidents, the SFRSA attended 488, comprising 91 humanitarian calls, 69 road traffic accidents, and 44 search and rescue operations. The agency also recorded two false alarms and 27 investigative calls. The breadth of the agency’s caseload is being read as a reminder of the range of emergencies that the SFRSA is asked to respond to beyond firefighting alone.
To boost fire preparedness, the SFRSA has drafted fire safety regulations which are expected to be enforced by mid-year, following a consultative phase. The regulations set out mandatory fire safety measures for commercial buildings, making provisions for a fire safety certification before a business is allowed to operate, and will also be applicable to government premises, including housing estates. In its efforts to remain on top of advancing technologies such as electrical and hybrid cars, the agency is undertaking a research study on necessary precautionary measures, and the public will be advised as to their findings. Two new fire tenders are planned to come in soon, to replace older fire tenders, with a further tender for additional equipment in 2025.
