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Nqobile Tshili Chronicle Correspondent
THE Bulawayo Fire Department is recording an increase in the number of house fires ever since Zesa intensified load shedding countrywide two weeks ago. Bulawayo’s Chief Fire Officer Richard Peterson yesterday said the fire department is attending to an average of five house fires per week, up from the usual one or two.

Due to power outages, he said, residents have resorted to other power sources which they are improperly using.

“Most of the fires have been caused by people using alternative energy sources to light up their premises as well as for cooking purposes. The fires we’ve been attending to have been caused by matches, primus stoves and gas tanks,” said Peterson.

“I believe these fires are a result of load shedding. If it wasn’t for the electricity load shedding we won’t be having a majority of people using matches, primus and gas stoves.”

He said the challenge was that people were not knowledgeable on how to use alternative energy sources.

Peterson highlighted a case of a Bradfield suburb house, which was engulfed in flames after its occupants left a gas tank on an electricity stove plate during a load shedding session.

“After power was restored the lit electricity stove heated up the gas tank resulting in an explosion causing severe property damage.

“It’s not common for residents to rely on gas. However, it’s being used due to increased power cuts,” said Peterson.

He said gas tanks that exceed 20kg must be installed outside houses and be connected by qualified personnel to avoid explosions.

Recently, Zesa released its load shedding schedule that will see some residents only accessing power between 10PM and 4PM.

This means residents will only access electricity when they least need it.

The power company attributed the new load shedding schedule to depressed generation at Kariba Power Station due to low water levels in Kariba Dam.

Last week, Power and Energy Development permanent secretary Partson Mbiriri said the country’s electricity woes will remain until 2018.