The global program launched the fire safety awareness campaign in Bihar to raise awareness of reducing fire risks and mitigating their impacts.

The global program has been working tirelessly to build the resilience of communities in the face of natural and man-made disasters. This latest campaign on fire safety is part of the organization’s efforts to ensure that people are well-informed on how to prevent and manage fire outbreaks.

The fire safety week campaign was done in coordination with Bihar State Disaster Management Authority (BSDMA), District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), and associated organizations in 13 Panchayats across Supaul, Nawada, and East Champaran districts from April 14–20, 2023.

The campaign was designed to educate people on the causes of fire outbreaks and how to reduce the risks. It also highlighted the importance of early detection, prompt response, and effective management of fire incidents. The global program believes that by raising awareness of fire safety, people will be better equipped to prevent fire outbreaks and manage them when they occur. It pushes for behavioural change and practices in the community to reduce fire risks and mitigate their impacts. Observing fire Safety Weeks is one of the important initiatives of the Authority.

A preliminary meeting with the BSDMA in Patna helped in chalking out the action plan for community awareness. The DDMA authorization for undertaking the awareness campaign helped the global program to run the campaign in Supaul, Nawada, and Areraj Circle Office in East Champaran.

The campaign began with the flagging-off of the mobile van by the circle officer and other officials. The mobile van carries messages of dos and don’ts, the van reached out to 24000 Families in 11 Panchayats. The van was equipped with audiovisual aids that were used to educate people on the causes of fire outbreaks and how to prevent them. The government officials commended Global Programme and BSDMA for their efforts in raising awareness of fire prevention.

The mass engagement was ensured through poster exhibition and orientation on how to use a fire extinguisher along and explanations of each of its component’s meanings and functions. The orientation explained different types of fires and their causes such as – Class A which involves fires through solid materials such as wood, paper, or textiles; Class B which involves flammable liquids such as petrol, diesel, or oils; Class C involving gases; Class D involving metals; and Class E which involve live electrical apparatus. The demonstration also involved awareness of different types of fire extinguishers such as CO2 fire extinguishers, water fire extinguishers, powder fire extinguishers, etc.

The campaign targeted women through community meetings to inform the factors that contribute to home fires, such as candles, electrical switches, the clothing one should wear when cooking, and fires caused by gas leaks or explosions caused by accumulated gas in LPG cylinders. A practical demonstration of immediate action to be taken in case of fire due to LPG cylinders.

Miking was carried out using a BSDMA awareness message on fire safety. Three male characters were depicted, one of whom was about to burn agricultural residue when the other two characters in the play taught him about the environmental damage caused by burning as well as the potential for fire to spread to larger areas, including other agricultural fields. The characters also recommended taking preventative measures to stop growing fires in agricultural regions, such as refraining from threshing close to produce that is ready for harvest, keeping a small amount of water and soil on hand to put out a fire, quitting smoking in the fields, etc.

The other visuals included two ladies discussing the best times for cooking, specifically before 9 AM for morning food and after 6 PM for night food, to reduce the risk of a house fire caused by high heat. Additionally, they discussed keeping combustible items out of reach and preventing children from unintentionally playing with fire or matchboxes inside the home.

The Fire Safety Week activities organized by the global program were a success, as they helped raise awareness of fire safety and equip communities with knowledge and skills to prevent and manage fire outbreaks. The use of a mobile van to disseminate information was particularly effective in reaching more people. The initiative will continue as part of the global program’s #we4resilience campaign to prevent & mitigate fire incidences in the community.