Editor, RE: “Fire outbreaks on the increase again?” (The New Times, August 10). It would be very wrong to assume that fire outbreaks are on the increase now based on the few isolated incidents that have happened in the recent past. Here in the city centre (where most of the incidents used to occur), we have now been trained and empowered with basic and advanced skills and techniques of firefighting and prevention. The last time I visited my family upcountry, they informed me that they had firefighting trucks and police officers ready for rapid intervention specifically dedicated to their district—later I was to be informed that actually all the districts have a similar arrangements It is through our own initiative now as the business community that we have purchased firefighting equipment and in case of any suspicious signals, we call the fire and rescue brigade of Rwanda National Police and, trust me, this has yielded significant positive results. Thumbs up for the firefighters and for the tireless effort invested in preventing and containing fires and the self sacrifice that has led us this far. Maria
