Firefighters give recommendations on fire, risk prevention during Easter Holidays in Moldova

The General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (IGSU) is conducting fire and risk prevention activities in places of worship across Moldova, in the context of the Easter holidays.

In this regard, IGSU personnel visited the Saint Ioan Iacob church from the Moldovan capital today, to talk with priests and parishioners about the importance of observing safety standards and fire prevention regulations.

Firefighters unveiled a string of recommendations for preventing fires, especially during the Easter Vigil, when open flames, candles and lanterns are used.

Thus, firefighters recommend closely monitoring lit candles and placing them in stable metal holders, using open flames only in specially arranged spaces, and avoiding overloading electrical installations. Also, ensuring good ventilation in rooms, equipping places of worship with quick intervention means and checking stoves, chimneys, and heating sources before use are important.

Rescuers also recommended avoiding excessive crowding inside churches and monasteries and emphasized the necessity of keeping evacuation routes free and accessible. In case of emergency, prompt evacuation is essential and access for intervention vehicles must be unobstructed. Thus, citizens are urged to avoid improper parking near places of worship.

Parents are urged to supervise their children and forbid them from playing with fire, matches or candles, to prevent incidents.

The prevention activities conducted by IGSU staff are organized annually and will continue in all districts of the country throughout the Easter holidays.

According to statistics, in the past five years, 34 fires were recorded in places of worship. The most frequent causes of fires were: carelessness in using open flames, improper construction of stoves and smoke evacuation chimneys, non-compliance with fire prevention regulations in using electrical installations and overloading electrical networks.