SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Directorate of Fire and Emergency Services has issued a detailed fire safety advisory ahead of Diwali, urging people to follow precautionary measures while bursting firecrackers and using diyas, candles and decorative lights to prevent fire incidents and protect lives and property.
The advisory warns that careless handling of firecrackers, open flames and electrical decorations can cause fires and other accidents, particularly during festival celebrations.
The Directorate has advised people to purchase firecrackers only from licensed and authorised vendors and ensure that the products are properly packaged, labelled and carry manufacturers’ details and safety instructions. Citizens have also been urged to use only legally permitted firecrackers and burst them in open, designated spaces, away from residential buildings, vehicles, shops and other combustible materials.
People have been advised to keep buckets of water or sand and suitable fire extinguishers readily available at celebration venues. Firecrackers should be placed on stable, flat surfaces, while children must use them only under the close supervision of responsible adults. Children, elderly people and pets should be kept at a safe distance from bursting areas.
For personal safety, the advisory recommends wearing cotton clothes and closed footwear while bursting firecrackers and avoiding loose, flowing or synthetic garments.
It also advises placing diyas and candles on stable, non-combustible surfaces, away from curtains, decorative materials, exposed electrical wires and other inflammable items.
On electrical safety, the Directorate has stressed the use of good-quality decorative lights, properly insulated extension boards and safe temporary wiring. People have been cautioned against overloading electrical sockets and advised to switch off decorative lights and unnecessary electrical appliances before going to bed or leaving their homes.
LPG cylinders, cooking appliances and other sources of ignition should also be kept away from firecrackers and decorative materials.
The advisory specifically prohibits the purchase and use of illegal, unlabelled or unauthorised firecrackers. People have been cautioned against holding firecrackers while lighting them or bursting them in crowded places, narrow lanes, balconies, rooftops, indoors or enclosed spaces.
Citizens have also been urged not to burst crackers near hospitals, schools, religious places, petrol pumps, LPG storage facilities and other sensitive establishments.
The Directorate has warned people against attempting to relight failed or unexploded firecrackers or approaching, touching or tampering with them. Such crackers should be kept away from people and handled safely.
Other precautions include avoiding throwing firecrackers towards people, animals, vehicles or buildings, leaving burning diyas, candles or incense sticks unattended, using damaged electrical wires or overloaded extension boards, and smoking or using open flames near firecrackers or their storage areas.
The advisory further directs people to ensure that used firecrackers are completely extinguished before disposal and not to throw partially burnt or unexploded crackers into dustbins or near combustible waste.
In case of a fire incident, the public has been urged to immediately alert the Fire and Emergency Services for timely assistance.
