The Barbados Fire Service is appealing to parents and guardians to be more vigilant with children using electrical devices during the current lockdown period.
Chief Fire Officer Errol Maynard told the Nation that several fires for 2021 were electrical, a trend which was also recognised during last year’s lockdown.
“Some of the issues we have seen were electrical in nature,” he said. “A lot more people are at home now and are using these devices. In some instances they are careless, and in other situations, children are playing with them (electronics) on the bed or cushion, leave them and go and play elsewhere. Then they (electronics) overheat.
“So we want parents to be more vigilant and specify a specific area in the house where children could use these devices; but not in the bed or around cushions. As much as possible, avoid areas with upholstery furniture and plug them (electronics) out when you are finished with them and when they have finished charging.”
Maynard also encouraged homeowners to get small appliances such as microwave ovens serviced as soon as they showed faults.
From January 1 to February 23 the Fire Service responded to 176 fires. There were 212 for the same period last year.
This year, fires affected four commercial buildings and 15 homes and 80 were rubbish heaps.
Last year, during this same period, there were nine house fires.
The causes of the house fires included people leaving stoves unattended; wiring issues and electrical standing fans burning out.
However, there are fires still under investigation to determine the cause.
The most recent house fire displaced a family of 17 last Sunday at Phillips Road, St Stephen’s Hill, St Michael.
There were 78 in 2020 and 61 in 2019. (SB)
