The Seychelles Fire and Rescue Services Agency (SFRSA) is once again urging members of the public to take extra precaution to prevent fires during the festive season given the amount of decorative lights and electrical appliances that will be used.

Speaking to the press, the SFRSA’s assistant division officer and PR officer, Terence Arnephy, said that people should be on the lookout and to read carefully the instructions with regard to decorative lights, electrical extensions and other electrical items to prevent overloading which might cause a fire to happen.

He added that people should always keep an eye on their cooking in the kitchen and an eye on their small children to make sure that they do not have access to anything that could light a fire, such as matches, lighters and candles, including touching electrical appliances.

With regard to merchants, he said that given the number of people that will enter their premises, they are being advised to refrain from stocking merchandise in their shops in areas where people can evacuate in the event of a fire or other incidents.

Mr Arnephy also called on everyone to refrain from burning any fire as the ban on lighting outdoor fires is still on due to the persisting dry season. If anyone wishes to light a fire, they have to seek permission from the designated authority in the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment.

He added that they can also seek the advice of SFRSA if they are to conduct a mass activity which includes the lighting of a fire so that they can be informed of precautions that can be taken to extinguish a fire should it run out of control.