CITY OF JOHANNESBURG'S WINTER SAFETY CAMPAIGN 2006 MATCHES & FIRE SAFETY Tuesday, 27 June It appears the that City of Johannesburg Winter Safety Campaign is winning the battle to prevent children from causing fires at home – but emergency services warns that in school holidays this struggle is now moving to the grassy fields. Malcolm Midgely, the spokesperson for Johannesburg Emergency Services, said the signs were that the safety message was getting through to children. He said three years ago more than 80 per cent of fires in the home were caused by children, but this year it was merely one per cent. "But the problem is that children are going out into the fields to play with matches and start grass fires that can threaten houses and livestock. We need to educate children about the dangers of this, every school holidays we see a sharp increase in these fires and this year is no exception," he said. Clouds of smoke have been seen over Johannesburg in recent weeks as grass fires have raged over hundreds of hectares. Midgely said that children aged between 8 and 16 years old were largely responsible for the fires and primary schools were the best places for the safety message to be spread. The City of Johannesburg Winter Safety Campaign, with its "Papa Q" character, has worked hard to drive home the message through the airwaves and print media that children should not play with matches or lighters. Johannesburg Emergency Services also recommends that parents and children take the time to visit a fire station and learn about fire safety. Visits for groups to the nearest fire station for a talk on safety and how children can avoid fires can be arranged by calling the Fire Service Command Centre on 011 375 5911. If parents want to keep their homes safe they could teach the following simple messages to their children in this school holiday. Matches and lighters are for adults only. Matches and lighters are tools for important jobs like lighting a stove so they are not to be touched. Parents must keep matches and lighters high and out of reach. Teach your children to tell an adult if they find them. Fire Service Command Centre 011 375 5911 ENDS. Issued by: Nthatisi Modingoane Media Liaison Officer CITY OF JOHANNESBURG Tel: (011) 407 7354 Fax: 403 3494 Cell: 082 467 9228 E-mail: nthatisem@joburg.org.za