More than 450 members of District Administration Security Support Organ (DASSO) and community policing committees in Remera Sector, Gasabo District, received training on firefighting to equip them with techniques and knowledge on how to respond in case of a fire outbreak.

The training was conducted on Monday by Rwanda National Police (RNP) in partnership with the district.Presiding over the training, Mayor, Stephen Rwamurangwa urged the participants to use the acquired skills to respond in case of fire outbreak.

The Commanding Officer of the RNP Fire and Rescue Brigade, Jean Baptiste Seminega, told the participants that DASSOs and CPCs have a responsibility to engage and educate residents about how to avoid fire outbreaks, as well as how to properly respond to fire threats.

"You should deliver the preparedness message to residents in an effective manner so as to best prepare them against fires. You should always remember that fire outbreak can be a matter of life and death; therefore, proper fire prevention measures and the knowledge of life safety procedures within residential communities save lives,” Seminega said.

"The experience and values gained in the training should empower you to react to fires, as well as work with Police and residents to conduct emergency rescues and timely interventions.”

The crime preventers were taken through firefighting drills in which they demonstrated their skills in extinguishing fire.

Jean Claude Kabanda, the director of Human Security in the Community Policing Department at RNP, warned the group against alcoholism and drug abuse, saying such could impair their judgement while conducting community safety initiatives.

Similarly, in Kacyiru, Police reached out to more than 200 crime preventers last week and urged them to maintain cooperation in providing timely information that helps to overcome crime in society.

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