When the Fire Breaks Out

A few weeks back my flatmate knocked on my door and told me about the burning smell. We hurriedly went out of our flat and saw a thin smoke in the hallway but there was no fire alarm heard. We hurriedly went down using the stairs and reported the matter to the watchman. He with a man from the office hurriedly went up and then came back to us after some minutes and informed us that there was nothing to worry about. Someone in the flat adjacent to ours was grilling a fish and that was what we smelled. (Hmm, the fire alarm was smart -- there was no danger at all! Praise the Lord!)

I got very nervous. At the moment when you were in a situation like that, you would think of nothing else but your safety, your important identification cards and documents. It is really very important to have a 'grab bag' and to always wear decent clothes even when you sleep.

In the news today, a fire broke out in a certain area here. (Read more here.) Some Filipinas are homeless after the fire gutted their flats and most of them lost everything. As they say, fire is worse than the thief; it takes all, properties/belongings and sometimes, lives.

Our approach must be preventive but since there are things beyond our control, when you are there you must have preparedness.

Here are some random thoughts --

1. Prepare a 'grab bag' that contains your important documents, laptop, clothes, basic toiletries, medicines, and extra money.
2. Always have an extra mobile phone load card so in case there yours is not postpaid and there is no WiFi, you can immediately contact the authorities and some friends.
3. Include in your phone book the contact numbers of the nearest consulate office. Better still, write it in on a sheet of paper and put it in the pocket of your grab bag.
4. Wear decent clothes so in case there is an emergency you can run right away.
5. Be alert and use your all senses to keep you safe from harms.
6. Do not panic and have a calm mind.

It is important to note that it really helps when we have lesser things so be a minimalist. Every single day, allot at least 30 minutes or an hour to check your items and organize them (what to put to the trash bin, donate, send home and keep).

Aside from praying for the safety of all people in your room and flat, pray also for those in the building and structures nearby.

"Safety is common sense." This was always the reminder of our team head when I was a member of the Safety Committee in my first company engaged in manufacturing of oleochemicals.

When I am awake, my senses are always alert and my mind is set on preventive ways to keep me and those around me safe, within areas to which I have access.

Here are some suggestions --

1. Do not use some make-shift items (like lamps) if you do not know anything about electricity.
2. Do not attend to out-of-order home appliances and equipment if you are not an electrician with special training on handling those things.
3. Avoid using many extension cords with one electric outlet source; it might be overloaded. In addition, the TheSpruce.com wrote, "xxx the extension cords need to be of an appropriate size for the power load being placed on them." (Read more about extension cords here.) 
4. Keep your extension cords tidy, not like an octopus, and not scattered on the floor or on the wall. Check if they are broken (cracked or with cuts showing bare wire), or overused (extreme wear) and if so, throw them out. If the plug is damaged and the extension cord is in good condition, just replace the plug and have it done by an electrician or the local hardware store authorized staff.
5. Some electrical items like water heater and air conditioner must be directly plugged in the main electrical outlet, not the extension cord, due to high wattage and amperage* demands.
6. Check the charging of your devices/gadget. Pull out from the socket if you see the battery indicator showing 100% as they may overheat and explode.
7. Buy home appliances, devices, gadgets, and accessories including batteries of good quality.
8. Switch off the lights and other electrical items when not in use.
9. If your flat/villa is residential, it is designed as such, so do not engage in commercial activities that require heavy use of electricity there. You must operate it in a commercial/industrial zone approved by the local authorities. If a fire breaks out in your flat/villa, there will be an investigation, and if they find out that your activity is the cause, you and your landlord (if you are renting a space) will be liable. So do not compromise safety.

*Not everyone knows the amperage rating in a circuit or in an extension cord. Here most people think that there will be circuit breaker trips or a fuse blows if there is an excess over amperage capacity.

I think manufacturers must clearly indicate wattage in every electrical/electronic equipment, appliance, device, gadget, etc. Likewise, the amperage requirements must be visibly printed or embossed on electrical outlets and extension cords.

The TheSpruce.com shows this tabular presentation on wire gauge, amperage rating and wattage rating. It is important for us to know more about the basics on these.

• Wire gauge #18 - 5 amps - 600 watts
• Wire gauge #16 - 7 amps - 840 watts
• Wire gauge #14 - 12 amps - 1,440 watts
• Wire gauge # 12 - 16 amps - 1,920 watts

Check your electrical outlet and extension cords. Make sure that they are within reach and not blocked by other things so in case of emergency, you can immediately pull out the plug with a problem. Check also the wattages of your electrical items.

In high school, I chose Electrical Basics as an elective subject. I think it must be included in the school curriculum as one of the main subjects as daily we use electrical items and the decades to come we will witness and use new inventions mostly electric-powered equipment and tools. Back-to-back with this is a subject on safety.  Knowledge of these subjects is an investment in disaster prevention and reduction.

I recall that experience one night when there was a brownout and we heard sirens so we moved down and out the streets which were flooded with water. There were many policemen and firefighters behind the firefighting truck at rest. It was Lenten season. The candle was left burning by the tenants who went out. The fire started there. Glory to God that the firefighters immediately stopped it and there was no reported injury nor death.

We must passionately make it a point to be safety-conscious at all times to save lives and properties. Fires can be prevented. I think it is not tolerable to lose innocent life/lives at risk in a fire that could have been prevented by mere use of common sense.

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Photo credits:  Pixabay