Heritage (Monrovia)

Liberia: Our Suggestion in Dealing With the Growing Fire Incidents

editorial

Our attention has been drawn to the growing wave of fire incidents in Monrovia and its environs as well as other parts of the country. These fire incidents have been occasioned by the loss of valuable properties, including houses and precious lives. In addition, these fire incidents had also rendered people homeless, thereby exacerbating the hardship of the already suffering people (victims).

In most, if not all of the cases, these fire incidents had been attributed to abandoned lit candles, and that the heartbreaking acts are usually followed by SOS calls by the victims for relief assistance.

Of late, there had been several fire incidents in Monrovia and other parts of the country. To mention, amongst other cases, fire recently gutted two houses in the Plumkor and Saye Town Communities respectively, leaving 63 residents, mainly women and children homeless, with more than LD$200,000 worth of properties destroyed. Some of the victims, who spoke to journalists on the scene of the disaster, described their condition as appalling and appealed for urgent help.

For us, we are seriously concerned about the growing wave of fire incidents in the country, as they are troubling and worrisome.

We are of the fear that the increasing fire incidents have the propensity to claim more precious lives and properties if proper mechanism is not urgently put into place to address what appears to be a looming catastrophe.

This is why we are suggesting to the government, civil society organizations, including the media amongst others to urgently embark on a nation-wide campaign aimed at sensitizing the public about the danger of leaving burning candle unattended since this seems to be main cause of the many fire incidents in the country.

We believe the growing fire incidents would be drastically reduced in the country once the public is well educated about the danger of abandoned burning candles.

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Comments Post a comment

  • KevinsKandles
    Feb 18 2012, 11:11

    Most accidental candle fires like these can be prevented!

    In January 2012 a tragic accidental candle fire occurred in Monrovia, Liberia. 150 homes were destroyed and 2,500 people were left homeless. This tragedy could have been prevented with Kevin’s Kandles. It’s time for the UN and other Poverty Relief Groups to embrace these Much Safer candles. These candles are also inexpensive (half the cost) and environmentally friendly.

    A shipping carton measures 15 x 15 x 20”, weighs 22 pounds and contains 500 packs of Kevin’s Kandles. Each pack has the potential to provide a family with 3+ months of safer candle illumination. A shipping container holds 324,000 packs of these candles. To watch the demonstration video and read the “Small Steps” folder visit www.asafercandle.com Let’s reduce the number of accidental candle fires!

  • KevinsKandles
    Feb 18 2012, 11:18

    I am a former UNMIL Fire Marshal that has a special place in my heart for my friends and Firefighters in Liberia.

    Kevin's Kandles has been founded as a direct result of my assignment in 2007-2008. The weekly fire calls for accidental candle fires in Monrovia had a profound impact on me. I have spent my entire career providing fire protection and fire safety to the public. Upon my return to Canada I knew I had to do something more. Now Kevin's Kandles are available - How do we encourage Monoprix or Bridgeway to offer these candles to Liberians? They are Much Safer than paraffin candles, less than half the price and environmentally friendly.

    In January 2012 a tragic accidental candle fire occurred in Monrovia, Liberia. 150 homes were destroyed and 2,500 people were left homeless.

    This tragedy could have been prevented with Kevin’s Kandles. It’s time for the UN and other Poverty Relief Groups to embrace these Much Safer candles.

    These candles are also inexpensive (half the cost) and environmentally friendly.

    A shipping carton measures 15 x 15 x 20”, weighs 22 pounds and contains 500 packs of Kevin’s Kandles. Each pack has the potential to provide a family with 3+ months of safer candle illumination. A shipping container holds 324,000 packs of these candles.

    To watch the demonstration video and read the “Small Steps” folder visit www.asafercandle.com

    Let’s reduce the number of accidental candle fires!

    Kevin Dawson info@asafercandle.com