Public asked to avoid illegal firecrackers, follow precautions around diyas, candles and electrical decorations
JAMMU: The Directorate of Fire and Emergency Services, Jammu and Kashmir, has issued a fire safety advisory ahead of Diwali, urging people to follow preventive measures while handling firecrackers, diyas, candles and decorative electrical lights.
The department cautioned that careless use of these items could lead to fire incidents, endangering lives and property.
According to the advisory, people should purchase firecrackers only from licensed and authorised vendors and ensure that the products are properly packaged, labelled and carry manufacturers’ details and safety instructions. Only legally permitted crackers should be used, and these should be burst in open, designated spaces, away from residential buildings, vehicles, shops and other combustible materials.
The department advised people 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 should use them only under adult supervision. Children, elderly persons and pets should be kept at a safe distance from bursting areas.
For personal safety, people have been advised to wear cotton clothes and closed footwear and avoid loose, flowing or synthetic garments while bursting crackers.
The advisory also calls for placing diyas and candles on stable, non-combustible surfaces, away from curtains, decorations, exposed electrical wires and other flammable materials. People have been asked to use good-quality, properly insulated decorative lights, extension boards and temporary wiring, and avoid overloading electrical sockets.
The department has advised switching off decorative lights and unnecessary electrical appliances before going to bed or leaving home. LPG cylinders, cooking appliances and other ignition sources should be kept away from firecrackers and decorative materials.
The advisory specifically warns against purchasing or using illegal, unlabelled or unauthorised firecrackers, holding crackers in hand while lighting them or bursting them in crowded places, narrow lanes, balconies, rooftops, indoors or enclosed spaces.
People have also been asked not to burst crackers near hospitals, schools, religious places, petrol pumps, LPG storage facilities and other sensitive establishments. Failed or unexploded crackers should never be relit or approached, touched or handled. They should be kept away from people and dealt with safely.
The department has further cautioned against 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.
Used firecrackers should be disposed of only after ensuring they are completely extinguished. Partially burnt or unexploded crackers should not be thrown into dustbins or near combustible waste.
The Directorate has urged citizens to immediately alert Fire and Emergency Services in case of any fire incident to ensure timely assistance.
