<i>Ctg fire damaged properties worth Tk 39.34cr last year</i>
Fire fighters use traditional ladders instead of the sophisticated snorkel (lift) to put out fire at a multi-storey building recently in the densely populated Khatunganj area. In most cases, they can't use snorkel due to narrow alleys. Photo: STAR
Properties worth around Tk 39.34 crore were damaged in 836 fire incidents in Chittagong district last year, said the sources at Chittagong Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters. Lack of sufficient water sources and narrow alleys in the densely populated areas and violation of construction rules in the metropolitan areas cause additional damage to properties and human lives as the fire fighters can't reach the spot in time. The amount of damage could be brought in a minimal stage with the available equipment, resolving the manmade problems, sources said. The fire service officials said the main problem they face during the fire is lack of water sources that they need after the carried water from the fire stations. The tanker can contain four to five thousand gallons of water while the pumps the fire fighters use discharge 250 gallons water a minute. In this situation, they said even in a small fire incident, fire fighting appeared difficult due to unavailability of open water source like hydrant or water body while going back to the stations for water amid traffic congestion is impossible. Besides, rampant filling of water-bodies for constructing buildings in the city areas without space for roads by the landlords pushes the situation to a difficult stage. On the other hand, during fire at any high-rise building the fire fighters can hardly use the snorkel, a sophisticated lift for fire fighting, due to narrow alleys and insufficient space for installing the 88.5 feet equipment. Overhead electricity, telephone and satellite cables are the main barriers for using the snorkel, they said. The damages of properties and life in the garment and other industrial units in the city occurred due to violation of the construction code while reluctance to follow the rules for stockpiling the goods -- mainly the chemicals -- contributes much to the origin of fire, said the Chittagong Fire Service and Civil Defence Headquarters Deputy Director Mohammad Ruhul Amin. “According to the construction rules for the heavy industrial units the buildings over six-storey must have to have own fire fighting equipment and a underground reserve tank for the emergency water supply,” Ruhul said. He said they hardly can monitor this regularly for lack of human resources. There are 19 fire stations -- 11 in the city and eight in the upazilas -- in Chittagong district. “The equipment we have are sufficient to fight fire incidents if the building and industry owners follow the rules,” he said, adding that their regular mass training and awareness campaign are going on to reduce damages in the fire. Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers' and Exporters' Association (BGMEA) First Vice President MA Salam told The Daily Star that they have already taken initiative in this regard considering its importance. He said eighty percent of factories have set up fire escape emergency staircases, installed hose pipe at every floor and reserved sand and blanket to fight the fire initially. He said though the fire incidents have reduced to a some extent while the casualty came down to a large scale. He said they are also emphasising on standard electrification and fire drill for the workers at least for once a month to avert casualty.
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