Over nine months, 1042 fires occurred in the Vitebsk region, resulting in 151 fatalities. Unfortunately, the situation with the fire element in the Lepel district has also been very tragic this year: 34 fires have been recorded, and the merciless flames have claimed the lives of eight people – almost three times more than last year.
The onset of the heating season is particularly concerning, as fires can occur during this period due to violations of fire safety rules when operating stove heating and electric heating appliances. Therefore, from October 1 to 31, the district emergency situations department is conducting a month-long campaign to prevent fires and other emergencies, and fatalities therein.
During this period, employees of the District Department for Emergency Situations (DDES) visit citizens' households, including lonely elderly people, disabled individuals, large families, and persons abusing alcohol. Extensive explanatory work is organised during rural meetings, other mass events with the involvement of rural executive committee observation commissions, volunteer fire inspectors, and members of the district branch of the youth public organisation of rescuers and firefighters.
Economic entities with departmental housing on their balance sheet are also inspected: whether stoves have been repaired, what has been done to replace faulty electrical wiring, and how autonomous fire alarms are being installed in residential premises.
Talks on preventing pyromania and playing with fire are held in schools and extracurricular educational institutions, the agrarian-technical college, and the state vocational lyceum.
Alexander ISPYANKOV,
Inspector of the Propaganda and Training Group of the DDES