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September has seen a massive increase in braais due to the Rugby World Cup and Heritage Month celebrations, but Old Mutual has warned about the possible insurance consequences if the fire grows in size.
“Fire is a genuine risk property owners face, particularly as South Africa approaches a hotter season this Spring and Summer when the danger of fires intensifies,” said Molebatsi Langa, Head of Retail Strategic Accounts at Old Mutual Insure.
According to Working with Fire, 90% of fires are caused by human negligence, with the leading causes of residential home fires are leaving cooking areas unattended, leaving something flammable near an open flame, or using a fireplace or wood stove incorrectly.
“There is also the added risk of electrical fires because of load shedding, where homeowners leave hairdryers or other appliances on and forget to turn them off when the power cuts. When the power comes back on, the electrical devices go on and can cause a fire,” said Langa.
Load shedding is also seeing more people revert to open flame cooking, including gas or charcoal braais and gas stoves.
She added that homeowner’s insurance typically covers someone’s home and belongings, but there may be issues in insurance claims.
“While insurance does provide critical support for losses stemming from fire-related incidents, not all claims are approved, especially if negligence is found to be a factor,” said Langa.
In addition, homeowner’s insurance will typically not cover wear and tear or a lack of maintenance. For example, the policyholder is responsible for preventing grease build-up, which can cause a residential fire.
South Africa is also entering a period where the risks of fires increase, with the Western Cape particularly susceptible to fires.
“This is especially relevant given the changing weather phenomenon that El Niño is expected to bring, which suggests that communities are facing heightened risks of droughts, heatwaves, and other climate-related dangers this summer,” Langa said.
“Preventing veld fires may be beyond your control, but there are still some steps you can take to be more fire-savvy – especially if you own a house with a thatched roof or if your home is in a mountainous area.”
Langa offered the following tips for keeping one’s home safe from fire:
- Place portable braai grids on stable ground, avoid moving them during use, and never leave them unattended. If you own a gas braai, regularly inspect gas braais for leaks using soapy water; address any bubbles immediately.
- Reduce the possibility of fires being able to spread, create firebreaks from neighbouring premises (where applicable), and clear bushes and trees around thatched housing or lapa’s.
- Keep open flames away from flammable structures and items, and never leave your cooking appliance unattended, even for a second.
- Exercise caution while braaiing, keeping flammable items, children, and breakables away. Clear your garden of dead plants and use accelerants carefully. Also, carry burn dressing in fire-related situations. Properly extinguish fires and dispose of hot ash and coal safely.
- Homeowners should proactively maintain smoke detectors and fire extinguishers at home to ensure they are operational in case of a fire outbreak.
- Fire pits are great fun, but make sure fires are out before leaving the fire pit area and put a cover on when it has died down to ensure that hot ash doesn’t escape with the breeze and cause a fire elsewhere on the property.
- Never leave children unattended or unsupervised around a fire, even when they just want to have fun making treats like s’mores.
- If you have a built-in braai stand with a chimney, make sure that the chimney is cleaned regularly and cleared of any debris to ensure that the smoke can be expelled adequately.
- Be careful of pets also playing or running around braai stands, as they can tip over the braai stand and get injured or cause damage to your property.
- Always have emergency contact details at hand or where they can be easily accessible in the case of an emergency.
Read: Rugby World Cup warning for businesses in South Africa
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