Safe Flame / Maitrise ta Flamme Launches in Ivory Coast in Collaboration with Local partners

Abidjan, Ivory Coast, July 16, 2024 - BIC, a world leader in lighters, recently announced the launch of its nation-wide fire safety initiative in partnership with local partners Groupement des Sapeurs-Pompiers Militaires (GSPM); the Association des grands brûlés de Côte d'Ivoire; and the Police Secours movement. The partnership was announced at a press conference on the 16^th of July in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

The initiative stems from BIC’s commitment towards the communities in which it operates and was founded as a result of the major public health problem in Ivory Coast. Since January, 2.220 fire safety incidents have been reported in Ivory Coast causing 15 deaths, particularly impacting women and children. Between the first half of 2023 and the first half of 2024, the Groupement des Sapeurs-Pompiers Militaires (GSPM) recorded a 100% increase in victims dying in a fire-related incident. Globally, 180,000 fire-related incidents cause death.

The partnership will leverage the skills and capacity of each of the partners aiming to reach a wide population across the country and run workshops, training sessions, and activities to raise awareness around fire safety and provide consumers with the relevant information to make informed decisions about their purchases and sufficient knowledge to manage any fire incidents they may face.

Commenting on the occasion, Sofian Gordah, General Manager West and Central Africa at BIC, said: “We are delighted to launch the first-of-its-kind initiative for BIC in the region in collaboration with our strategic local partners. As a leader in lighters manufacturing, we are committed to the safety of our consumers and continue to act as a responsible corporate citizen to equip them with the relevant knowledge and contribute towards reducing fire incidents.”

These partnerships aim to unite the efforts of the public and private sectors to combat the risks of fire and burns across the country. Assane Coulibaly Keita, founder of the Civic Tech Police Rescue Platform stated that "Partnering with BIC for the Safe Flame campaign allows us to extend our mission of promoting public safety. By uniting our efforts, we can effectively educate communities on fire prevention and safety measures. We want to create a safer environment for everyone, especially the most vulnerable groups."

Ms. Rose de Sousa, President of the Grands Brûlés Association of Côte d’Ivoire welcomed this initiative and expressed her support through this collaboration, saying: "We are proud to be part of this initiative with BIC alongside our other partners. Our focus will be on raising awareness of first-aid techniques and combating the stigmatisation of burn victims. This initiative is crucial in educating the public and providing support to those affected by burns, ultimately fostering a more inclusive and informed society."

BIC is a world leader in lighters production and is committed to quality and safety standards, considering it a top priority. BIC has been producing lighters since 1973. Each of the 7 million lighters produced worldwide daily undergoes more than 50 quality and safety checks during the manufacturing process. To learn more about the lighters and their quality, click here, and for a report on fire safety click here.