By RABECCA CHIPANTA –
FOUR people have escaped death after a house in which almost 200 litres of fuel were kept, caught fire in Ndola’s Old Regiment settlement.
Meanwhile, Ndola City Council (NCC) has warned against illegal fuel vending.
The NCC says it has observed the increase in the number of illegal vendors trading in petrol and diesel in Old Regiment settlement.
Council Public Relations Manager Tilyenji Mwanza warned the illegal vendors to desist from trading in the commodities which, if not properly stored, were very dangerous.
Ms Mwanza sounded the warning after the fire brigade officers who were called to the scene at 03:51 hours saved two of the four-roomed house and rescued the occupants.
It was later established that the house had 50 litres of kerosene and 125 litres of diesel, which was against the laws.
“If you wish to store more than 30 litres of fuel and up to a maximum of 200 litres of fuel at your home or premises, you need to follow the legal requirements for doing this, which are prescribed in the Petroleum Act which stipulates that they should apply to the council to obtain a licence to sell fuel,” she said.
Ms Mwanza said people were advised to notify the local Petroleum Enforcement Authority in writing, giving their name and address as the occupier of the storage place or the address where the fuel was to be stored.
She advised that petrol could be stored in suitable portable metal or plastic containers, demountable fuel tanks or a combination of the above as long as not more than 200 litres was kept.
Ms Mwanza said due to the escalating illegal vending of these commodities, the local authority would from now on be carrying out inspections in communities engaging in the trade of petroleum products, and that those found in conflict with the law would be brought to book.
She said the local authority would like to emphasise that the inscribed laws and their enforcement were not meant to deter people from trade but to guarantee safety as fuel was a highly combustible solvent.
“We value every life,” Ms Mwanza said. “The improper storage of these highly flammable substances, especially in large quantities, has the ability to not only ignite a household but an entire community.”