By Jude Njoku

Safety is one thing that many Nigerians take for granted. Indeed, it is commonplace to see Nigerians build mansions worth several millions of Naira which they also lavishly furnish but which they do little or nothing to protect from disasters such as fire.

Some homeowners think it is an waste of hard earned resources to either insure their property or instal fire fighting devices in their homes. But a stitch in time saves nine, hence experts posit that for a secure home, occupiers should instal fire fighting gadgets as such disaster can occur when least expected.

Apart from installing fire fighting devices, an electrical installation expert, Mr Athanatius Anyanwu advised home owners who cannot avoid the conduit wiring of their homes, to pipe the surface electrical wires.

According to him, such piping of electrical wires would reduce the incidence of fire disasters in which lives and property are usually lost in a twinkling of an eye.

Although experts posit that just keeping one fire extinguisher in your home is not enough, they contended that one of the important places a fire extinguisher should be installed is the kitchen because that area is prone to fire outbreaks.

Fire Extinguisher

The idea of having multiple fire extinguishers is anchored on the fact that fire can occur in any area of your home. “You should therefore prepare for such eventuality by having multiple fire extinguishers spread throughout your home”. Fire extinguishers come in many types for different combustible materials.

You should not only choose the right type of extinguisher for your use, you should also know how to operate it properly in advance of an actual fire. The proper locations for fire extinguisher placement can make the difference between containing a sudden fire and having it burn out of control. Class A fire extinguishers put out ordinary combustibles.

You use them on burning wood or paper while Class B extinguishers are used on fires that involve flammable liquids, such as oil, grease or gasoline. They are best for kitchens or garages. On the other hand, Class C extinguishers are usually used to fight electrical fires. They can also use them on fires that the class A and B models are rated for.

Extinguishers classified as D put out fires that involve flammable metals or metal alloys and are rarely needed in the home.

For larger buildings like high-risers, experts explained that apart from ensuring that such properties are comprehensively insured, owners should ensure that fire hydrants in working conditions are provided. A fire hydrant is an emergency water connection in a building or street.

To avoid fire outbreaks, homeowners should endeavour to spread smoke detectors in the house and check their batteries and wiring regularly. It is commonplace to find stacks of paper, boxes, or books near areas with high electrical activity, this is wrong and should be avoided.