Residents’ knowledge in the field of fire prevention has improved – fires are decreasing in the area

Since the beginning of this century, fires in Klaipėda district have decreased from 420 to 157 last year. “Residents are taking care of themselves, complying more with fire safety requirements, but sometimes they lose vigilance,” said Arūnas Armalis, chief specialist of Gargžda PGT of the Klaipėda Fire Rescue Board. In the last decade, more attention has been paid to preventive work, but victims have not been avoided: in the last three years, 9 people have died in fires.
The only workplace
Almost 19 years ago, A. Armalis, who got a job at Gargžda PGT, collects fire statistics and analyzes them. This is an important part of the chief specialist’s job, because it is necessary to know where in the area the most fires break out.
Gargždiškis A. Armalis, who graduated from Klaipėda University, immediately turned to Gargždi PGT – the construction engineer did not get to taste the bread of the construction business. “In that year, the job of an inspector was offered in this service – my higher technical education met the requirements and I accepted,” revealed the official. The advantage was that he knew the Klaipėda region. However, he had to attend advanced training courses for several years until he “grew up” as a fire protection officer.
Male specialist A. Armalis, whose only workplace is Gargždų PGT, is responsible for fire protection: the main work is checking companies, investigating complaints, reports and fires, as well as prevention, education of residents. “In the last decade, more attention has been paid to prevention in order to prevent fires, to educate people so that they take care of fire safety at home,” said the official.
He recalled that a couple of weeks after starting work there was a fire in which a person died. In the region in 2006 there were the most fires in the history of this century – 420. In the first decade, an average of 300 fires broke out, and then began to decrease. Last year there were the fewest since the beginning of this century – 157. The causes of fires are various.
Fines for those who do not clean soot
Last year, 42 fires broke out in the residential sector (52 the year before). Even 22 times, soot burned in chimneys – less than in previous years. Last year, the roof of a residential house caught fire from soot in Plikiai. While repairing it, the fire broke out again: the owner was lighting the stove, connected to the same chimney.
Residents are fined up to 70 euros for not cleaning soot. “We try to emphasize that the chimneys should be cleaned at least once every 3 months, and maybe more often,” said A. Armalis. – Soot fires are dangerous – very high combustion temperature. Firefighters cool the chimney when they arrive, but use water to extinguish the flames. It happens that the solid fuel unit is damaged – large losses are incurred. 4 years ago, the boiler room exploded when soot caught fire in the chimney.”
Last year, 11 buildings burned down in gardeners’ associations, and 14 in the previous year. According to the official, the most problems are in Dituva’s gardeners’ association: “We hold campaigns, we explain to people, but they manage to light barbecues or branches 6 meters from the building, even though the distance must be at least 30 years old.”
24 fires broke out in farm buildings last year, 35 the year before. Last year, 4 saunas caught fire due to overheating.
He did not learn from painful experiences
Fires in open areas have decreased: a decade ago there were about 100-120 fires in the area, and the largest areas were burned. In recent years, they have been decreasing: last year, 38 were registered. Now we photograph the burning meadow and send it to the National Payment Agency, which, having found out that the declared meadow has not been mowed, no longer allocates payments”, revealed A. Armalis.
On a windy day last year, a Daupari resident lit the branches on fire when he decided to tidy up his plot. A huge fire broke out – several hectares of flames spread along the main road. Environmentalists fined him several thousand euros for the damage he caused to nature.
Last year, vehicle fires almost doubled – 22, compared to 40 the year before, including two arson.
According to A. Armali, fires have decreased in the area, but not in garbage containers: last year 8 caught fire, 6 in previous years. “People still pour ashes into them, even though it is forbidden,” the official lamented. – During the campaign, an elderly resident of an apartment building visiting the village of Micki admitted that after scooping out the ashes from the oven, she keeps them for two days and pours them into the garbage container. Residents have not learned from painful experiences. According to the requirements, ashes should be poured no closer than 15 m from buildings, and kept in non-flammable containers for 6 days. It happens that the buildings were burned after being dumped a few meters away or even on the border.”
Last year, the biggest fire broke out in Kunkiai: when the gazebo caught fire, two cars were destroyed, and the fire spread to straw bales. On more than one day, the firefighters had to extinguish them and pour a lot of water. A farmer from Agluonėnai district suffered big losses when grain caught fire due to a malfunction in the grain dryer. A similar disaster happened to this farm the year before. Last year, a fire broke out at the plastic waste sorting company “Virginijus ir Ko”.
A. Armalis, who is investigating the causes of the fires, had to participate in the extinguishing works himself. A dozen years ago, the building of a coffin-making company caught fire in the village of Piktožių, and the adjacent field caught fire from it. It was difficult to put out the burning grass on a windy day – fire service specialists rushed to help the firefighters. “We had to beat the flames all day – a 10-hectare field was burned,” the official recalled.
Not left to fate
At the beginning of A. Armali’s work, 11 fire victims were registered in the Gargžda PGT, a year later – the same number again. In the last 3 years, 9 people died in the fire. Painful events are hard to forget. Last year, a fire claimed the lives of the people of Veiviržėniški and Kretingališki. According to A. Armali, it was found that both died drunk, due to careless smoking. “Maybe we could have avoided these deaths if those people had smoke detectors and hadn’t consumed alcohol,” the officer thought.
According to him, the victims of fires are usually people who live antisocially and drink. “When investigating the circumstances of the incident, the neighbors usually do not know their names or surnames – they are left to the will of fate. It’s bad that you’re aloof: you can talk to a sober person, ask how they live, and maybe give them a smoke detector and install it. After all, when a fire breaks out, not only the culprit, but also the neighbors suffer. After all, a safe neighborhood has been fostered in recent years.”
For the third year running the “Be alert – avoid fire” campaign, Gargžda PGT officers and firefighters from the District Municipality’s Fire Protection Service visit lonely, elderly residents of the district who lack social skills. There are about 200 on their list. We installed a smoke detector for more than one – the Municipality allocated funds for this. But when we visit again, we sometimes find them hacked or with discharged cells. Sometimes we get scolded for not bringing new ones to replace the old ones when they run out. By the way, one resident, whom we visited for about 10 years, still died in the fire”, revealed A. Armalis.
According to him, more than half of the residents of the district do not have smoke detectors in their homes. “However, they saved people’s property and lives more than once,” assured the official.
Virginia LAPIENĖ
Author’s photo.