Fire Prevention at Tomb Sweeping Festival
Tomb Sweeping Festival is approaching, in order to prevent the fire, the fire department urges the public to follow “No fire” principles when sweeping tomb. This includes “Don't burn weeds”, “Don't burn joss paper”, “Don't set off fireworks”, “Don't throw cigarette butts”. In addition, to protect the mountain environment as well as reduce the risk of fire, “Remember to pick up trash when leaving”. During the Tomb Sweeping Festival, people who burn joss paper and weeds can easily lead to cemetery fires, air pollution, ecological damage, and pose threats to life and property. To prevent the disasters, the fire department recommends the public worship without fire. Alternative methods such as "donating money instead of burning joss paper", "using rice instead of joss paper", "praying with folded hands ", and "using cell phones to play firecrackers sound instead of real firecrackers" can also express reverence for ancestors. Furthermore, individuals are encouraged to utilize online worship platforms and centralized joss paper burning services provided by the Taipei City Mortuary Services Office (MSO) and Department of Environmental Protection. These services ensure safety, reduce air pollution, and protect the ecological balance. In addition, the public can download various disaster prevention Apps to receive accurate and real-time disaster prevention information before sweeping tomb. For example, “Taipei City Disaster Prevention App” provides information such as weather and rainfall for reference and preparation. "Video call 119App" can help to transmit incident images and GPS coordinates to the 119 Emergency Dispatch Center in case of fires in remote cemetery areas. This will shorten the time it takes for firefighters to reach the incident area. "The first scene App" can activate the life chain and call for volunteers as soon as possible in the event of OHCA. Volunteers will perform CPR and AED for more chances of successful resuscitation before the ambulance arrives. In conclusion, the Fire Department once again appeals to the public to not forget fire prevention work during tomb sweeping. Once the public accidentally causes a fire, resulting in air pollution or casualties, the relevant units of Taipei city government will impose penalties in accordance with the law. By adhering the “ No Fire” principle and utilizing city services, people can ensure a good and safe holiday together.