It is regrettable that four people lost their lives over the past week in fires. Unfortunately many people are dependent on dangerous heating and cooking utensils such as portable gas and paraffin stoves. These, if not managed well, are often responsible for such devastating fires.
But what these incidents over the past week have highlighted is the shocking behaviour of certain members of the public who, at one of the fires, refused to allow the fire brigade to enter the area, pelting them with stones and other objects.
Who knows whether a life could have been saved here if firefighters were not initially intimidated.
Unfortunately this kind of behaviour is nothing new in the valley.
Not only have firefighters fallen victim to this, but ambulance personnel and police as well.
Such behaviour is just not on, bordering as it does on the barbaric.
Members of these emergency services risk their lives daily to try and assist their fellow human beings. And now the public is repaying them with violence? Seriously?
One outcome is that emergency respondents will in future be reluctant to enter certain areas where such behaviour is forthcoming, and more innocent lives will be lost as a result.