Going down in flames: Only 14 of KMC's 21 fire stations are functional

KMC's fire brigade dept lacks resources and may require a bailout, states letter

KARACHI: The Sindh government has left the port city out on a limb as the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) fire brigade department is experiencing a major financial crisis, due to which 14 of its 21 fire stations are functional.

A letter in this regard was written by KMC Chief Fire Officer Tahseen Siddiqui to a local government department research officer, Akhlaque Khan Yousufzai. Karachi, being a metropolitan city with 20 land-owning agencies and a population of over 23 million, lacks adequate resources to cope with emergencies, thereby compromising the life and property of the residents, the letter reads. It adds that none of the agencies ever consulted the fire brigade departments while issuing permits and licences for high-rise buildings.

"It is a fact that Karachi has no more [room for] horizontal growth, all [growth is] vertical but KMC is not equipped to deal with emergencies [in high-rise buildings]. All [the] stakeholders of the city are working in silos. Unfortunately, the due priority for the city's emergency responders was never accorded in policy-making," reads the letter.



Currently, according to the letter, the fire brigade department has only 10 fire tenders operational out of 48 and, as a result, 13 fire stations are out of commission. Not a single fire tender is currently available to respond to any emergency situation in the entire District Central. "All three fire stations located within the administrative boundaries of District Central are out of commission," adds the letter. "Thus, the fire department is not even capable of controlling or extinguishing fires on the ground either."

The fire department, according to the letter, is primarily lacking advanced fire-fighting rescue equipment. The recent fires at Regent Plaza Hotel and Saima Trade Towers are evidence of this.

"There is an acute shortage of fire-fighting vehicles, equipment and consumable items. Thus, a bailout package for fire brigade is [essential]," it reads.

Regarding the current status of snorkels available to the fire department and the construction of high-rise buildings in the city, only one snorkel of 40 metres donated by Japan is in working condition while two Vema Snorkels of 45 metres are under repair and will soon be available to the fire brigade. Likewise, the letter says that the oldest Simon Snorkel of 30 metres is also out of order and needs major repair.



"Nevertheless, the Sindh government is in a process of purchasing a new snorkel of 104 metres, which will be handed over to the Karachi Fire Brigade this year," it states.

Responding to the letter, an official of the Sindh government told The Express Tribune requesting anonymity that due to over-employment and illegal promotions, KMC spends all its finances on salaries.

According to the official, every month the Sindh government gives KMC a grant of Rs140 million for their expenses. For the fire brigade, the official said the Sindh government is going to hand over a snorkel worth Rs500 million and three regular fire tenders soon.