The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has advised people to follow a host of safety measures to prevent fires at home during the summer.

Besides high temperatures, the MoI has said negligence and poor knowledge of preventive measures are responsible for most fire incidents, whose numbers increase during the summer.
The advisory published on the ministry’s Facebook page lists a number of dos and don’ts for the public.
On the use of air-conditioners (ACs), the advisory has said “running all the air-conditioners at the same time and for longer periods” will lead to an overload and generate excess heat, thereby causing a fire. Besides, ACs that are operating continuously in a dusty environment may cause fires as the dust can settle over electrical components such as capacitors and lead to faults.
In some homes, lack of quality electrical wiring can cause damage and lead to a fire, the advisory notes, urging people to use high-quality wiring cables. Similarly, it has said people should avoid using low-quality electrical appliances.
The safety of energy sources at home should be ensured, especially that of gas cylinders, the MoI has said. “Close them properly and ensure there is no leakage. Gas fires are considered the most dangerous types of fires.”
Further, the advisory has stressed that children should be kept away from power sources at home.
The tips offered by the MoI also refer to the use of exhaust fans. “Avoid running exhaust fans for a long time and clean them regularly,” the advisory says.
People should “avoid overloading outlets” and plug only one high-wattage appliance into each receptacle outlet at a time. They should also ensure that good fire extinguishers are available in their homes and cars and learn how to use them properly, the advisory states.
In conclusion, the MoI has urged people not to hesitate to call 999 in case of an emergency. Details such as their house, street and zone numbers should always be available with them, the ministry has added.