Call for members public to familiarise themselves with local fire dept's contact details
The advice comes after fires gutted homes and other buildings recently claiming dozens of lives, including children.
Six family members have died in a fire in Boksburg in Ekurhuleni on the East Rand. Picture: Mongezi Koko/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - Structural and fire engineering professor Richard Walls said members of the public need to familiarise themselves with their local fire department's contact details to fast-track response to emergencies.
The advice comes after fires gutted homes and other buildings recently, claiming dozens of lives, including children.
Walls said it's critical to note that every second counts when fires break out, as this could mean life or death.
On Monday, a family of six at the Marikana informal settlement in KwaThema, in the East Rand, died in their home after the shack caught alight.
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This incident comes after another tragic incident where four children died in a blaze at a Mayfair home that served as a creche last week.
Walls said in most cases, the delay in response is because most people go through a lengthy process when they report a case.
"Often people don't know the fire department number, so they will phone 10111, which is the police, but they need to know the local fire department number because minutes matter, and if the number gets, they get through to the fire department quickly, that can make a big impact. The fire department is always key. I mean, our firefighters risk their lives on a daily basis," said Walls.