The number of building and house fires in which the fire services had had to intervene increased by 15 last year, although the total number of emergency calls it received decreased by 62.

These figures have been revealed in the Seychelles Fire and Rescue Services Agency (SFRSA) statistical breakdown for last year.

The SFRSA spokesperson Jones Madeleine said on Monday that this year the agency’s priority is to intensify its fire awareness prevention and education campaign to include more workplace education.

It is also planning to increase training for SFRSA officers and also to review its strategic plan.

Compared to 2014 where the SFRSA was called in to intervene in 22 fires in buildings and houses, in 2015 its help was required in 37 such incidents.

“This shows that we need to remain alert and vigilant with regard to the type of precaution that we take and the SFRSA should continue with and step up its fire precaution and awareness campaign,” Mr Madeleine said.

 

He noted that while the number of emergency calls for SFRSA intervention reduced considerably in 2015 to 433 compared to 495 in 2014, incidents where the agency’s help was required to remove people stuck in vehicles following road accidents increased by 7 last year(from 44 in 2014 to 51 in 2015).

SFRSA figures also show an increase in the number of fires caused as a result of electrical installation – from 17 in 2014 to 19 last year.

Meanwhile the number of other emergency incidents where the SFRSA had to intervene reduced from 255 in 2014 to 201 last year.

SFRSA intervention in bush fires also reduced last year where 57 incidents were recorded compared to 73 in 2014.

While 23 incidents of vehicle fires were reported in 2014, there were only seven last year and only two cases of ship and boat fires compared to four the year before.

While there were only two false alarms recorded in 2014, these increased to six last year and Mr Madeleine noted that continuous  public education and awareness is important and essential so people know more about the precautions to take to prevent fires.

Meanwhile the SFRSA on La Digue recorded three cases of house fires amounting to R3 million in damages.

The total cost of damages from fires on Mahé is estimated at R57,931,362.