The Effects of Fire ‘Heartbreaks’
‘If your neighbour’s beard is on fire you’d better place by yourself a pot of water – a famous African axiom
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The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) recently launched its Home Fire Safety Campaign during which it was announced that between 2011 and 2015, several thousands of fires, majority of which were domestic, were recorded.
These efforts and educational campaigns being carried out by the GNFS to ensure a fire safety consciousness among the general public is commendable. If these number of homes had already been consumed by fire, I wonder how many homes would have been left for occupancy, especially if there was no insurance covering them!
Domestic Fire Outbreaks
Every year, many homes, industries (factories and warehouses) and other properties fall victim to fires. While in some cases essential properties are salvaged, in many others they are completely consumed by the fires. The Home Fire Safety Campaign initiated by the GNFS, which has the objective of driving home the need to adopt and put in place fire safety measures at home to ensure the prevention of such fires, is one that should be embraced by all while factoring in the need for homeowners comprehensive insurance.
Human Contribution to Domestic Fires
Every year, one major ceremony is certain - the crossover and all the other ‘overs’ from December 31 to January 1. This short period is invariably marked by fireworks everywhere in Ghana and perhaps elsewhere on the globe. Fire crackers (though outlawed), bonfires from used motor vehicle tyres and other combustibles are used ‘to thank God’ for ushering us into the New Year. Pomp and ceremony characterise the atmosphere. The annual seasonal harmattan often appears to be quite intense and severe, and serves as a major catalyst.
Indeed, in our excitement to show gratitude to God, there are often unfortunate incidences of fire outbreaks often giving us heartbreaks, both accidental and those induced by the activities of the season, majority of which are preventable.
The recent fire ‘heartbreak’ at Ashanti Mampong which gutted a household and consumed an entire family of at least six persons should serve as a reminder to most of us that anything can happen to anybody at anytime regardless of the safety measures in place.
My experience of nearly causing a domestic fire
Negligence, Ignorance and Carelessness
I was driving to work and half way through the journey, I realised I had left my laptop at home. I needed this laptop for a presentation that morning and so I was compelled to go back for it. Naturally angry with myself after having endured the early morning traffic congestion, I made a U-turn back home. I opened my main door and noticed a thin dark smoke emanating from the kitchen. I was shaken. I entered the kitchen only to see the gas stove on with stew on it! Apparently, in my rush to get to work, I forgot to turn it off. But for the laptop that sent me back home, only God knows what could have happened.
Burning of Dry Debris
The second one happened when I was on my ‘private domestic sanitation day’ some time early 2015. I noticed the intensity of the harmattan winds and decided to take advantage to burn some dried plantain leaves between my house and a neighbour’s. The flame from the match stick was immediately blown off by the winds without touching the dried leaves; then it dawned on me the potential dangers of burning the debris at that time. Had the debris lit and resulted in an inferno, neither my house nor my neighbour’s would be spared. This only goes to confirm the statistics presented by the GNFS, as people lit indiscriminately, thereby causing infernos.
Some Causes of Domestic Fires
From my personal experiences above, therefore, I am now inclined to ascribe many domestic fires to include burning of dry debris, rubbish and other combustibles in and around our homes, factories and warehouses. Similarly, our own negligence can result in many fire outbreaks. Thus, various climatic conditions, either individually or collectively, may all affect the behaviour of these fires.
Notwithstanding the many domestic fires resulting from bushfires, especially during the dry seasons, it is also very true that most of them are escalated by the harmattan winds. How we construct and maintain our homes in fire-prone and accessible areas is, therefore, the key factor in determining what damage could or could not occur. That notwithstanding, it is worth noting the fact that, however well these safety measures are put in place, there is still the need for insurance protection.
The Need for a Homeowner’s Insurance
Homeowners, property owners and residents living in areas surrounded by bushes and combustibles are more at risk. Similarly, the way buildings / houses are wired without the engagement of accredited professionals can be deadly. In this regard, the routine education provided by the GNFS, the National Insurance Commission (NIC) and the Ghana Insurers Association (GIA) on these infernos must be taken seriously. Thus, property owners must first revalue their properties and their contents therein, and then take out an insurance policy with the cover that matches the value of the particular asset(s). It is gratifying to know that the all non-life insurance companies in Ghana provide a comprehensive homeowners’ insurance at very little premiums and it’s about time all homeowners took advantage of this policy.
What to do when there is fire to the insured
When fire rages, it is often expected of the insured to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage to the property. This may involve moving undamaged valuable items to a secure section of the property for safety, otherwise the claim becomes vitiated.
Meanwhile, the first step of the claim process is to report to your insurer. Following which, you may complete a claim form and provide other necessary documentation (e.g. GNFS and Police reports). Where necessary, the insurer may process and pay the appropriate compensation or take steps to repair the damaged property. Such repairs are often done by the insurer’s accredited professional(s). However, if a property owner decides to repair the property before making a claim, he or she must ensure that photos or video recordings are taken showing ‘’before-and-after” position of the property and all receipts for the work done are also made available.
Claim Expectation
Insurance policies may either be based on a fixed “sum insured” or the cost of replacing a property and / or its contents. Besides indemnifying property owners with the sum insured, the policy may also provide cover for items such as emergency / temporary housing, clearing of debris, etc. If the policy is for the property’s replacement value, the insurer can choose between paying for the property refurbishment cost or a lump sum cash payment to restore the economic circumstance of the property owner prior to the loss.
The Way Forward
From the GNFS statistics, one thing may be established – that some of the most bizarre fire outbreaks usually happen during the harmattan; hence individuals must not wait till then and for that matter take steps to acquire or renew their homeowners’ insurance policies ahead of time in order to mitigate the effects of any mishap. Property owners must prepare emergency kits and take the necessary steps to minimise the risk of possible fires. For instance, clearing of bushes, debris and other combustibles around such properties and acquiring / installing fire extinguishers at vantage points. Besides the need for an insurance policy to minimise financial losses arising from a burnt property, is also imperative.
It is needless to state that owning a house or its contents requires life time savings and hence the need to put in place all the safety measures, including insurance so we can continue ‘to live a life’ without fire ‘heartbreaks’!
Until next week, “This is insurance from the eyes of my mind”.
