Roaring blazes rife in Karachi as it shivers under a cold snap

Fire dept decries lack of resources, non-payment of salaries, allowances amid increased fire incidents

KARACHI: As 2019 was nearing its end, Karachi witnessed a sudden increase in fire incidents. A total of 2,639 incidents were reported in the metropolis throughout the year, of which most took place in December, adding up to 293.

A monthly breakdown from 2019 reveals that 266 fire incidents were reported in the city in February- highest after the number of incidents reported in December- 255 were reported in November, 241 in April and 238 in January. The frequency gradually decreased with the temperature rising and summer season approaching. As many as 242 fire incidents were reported to have taken place in February in the city, followed by 215 in June, 206 in May, 194 in July, 181 in August and 177 in October. The least number of fire incidents, totalling 131, was reported in September.

Chief Fire Officer Tehseen Siddiqui attributes this increase in fire incidents to decrease in humidity levels during winter. “Humidity levels drop during winter and weather turns dry, leading to a surge in the number of fire incidents,” he said while talking to The Express Tribune. He added that besides dryness, strong winds that the city experienced in chilly weather caused the fires to spread rapidly. Of late, since December last year, temperature in Karachi has dropped drastically and the city has been gripped by a cold wave, which explains the more frequent fire eruptions across the metropolis.

Keeping in view the rise in the number of fire incidents during winter, Siddiqui has advised that citizens take precautionary measures to avoid any untoward incidents, particularly stressing that women in slums be extra careful while cooking.

On road to ruin

Siddiqui also decries the lack of resources and non-payment of salaries to the fire department staff, saying that they have been doing the best they could to perform their duties despite being shorthanded as well as running short of funds.

Talking to The Express Tribune, he revealed that it had been six months since a raise was announced for the fire department staff but they haven’t been paid the revised sum. To add to it, the staff has not even received the fire risk allowance for the past 17 months and dues for 2015 are yet to be cleared, he lamented. There are 23 firehouses in Karachi, of which 10 were forced to shut down due to persistent negligence and lack of interest from relevant authorities, The Express Tribune had reported earlier. Moreover, only 13 of the Karachi Fire Brigade’s 50 fire tenders are currently in use with the rest rotting out of order, the report stated, adding that this means that each fire station currently operating only has one fire tender it can rely on. If it fails, the entire station in effect is rendered useless. To add to it, many of the fire stations lack overhead and underground water tanks as well, the report mentioned.

Of these fire houses, most complaints- adding up to 305- were received at the Saddar Fire Station in 2019. Besides, 232 were received at the Central Fire Station, 244 at the Nazimabad Fire Station, 200 at the SITE Fire Station and 234 at Korangi Fire Station. As many as 145 incidents were reported at Lyari Fire Station, 137 at Landhi Fire Station and as many at Gulshan-e-Mustafa Fire Station, 187 at North Karachi Fire Station, 184 at Gulistan-e-Jauhar Fire Station and 108 at Gulshan-e-Iqbal Fire Station. Another 73 incidents were reported at Orangi Fire Station, 62 at Shah Faisal Fire Station, 84 at Manzoor Colony Fire Station, 20 at Baldia Fire Station, 89 at Bolton Market Fire Station, 26 at Cattle Colony Fire Station, 82 at Civic Centre Fire Station, 65 at Malir Fire Station, 108 at Gulshan-e-Iqbal Fire Station and 21 at SITE Super Highway Fire Station. Just one incident of fire was reported at Emergency Rescue Centre Hawkes Bay and Gulshan-e-Maymar Fire Station each.

With reports of fire department facing a lack of resources, the capability of some of these fire stations to provide timely and adequate assistance remains to be questionable. It is probably due to this reason that Pakistan Navy’s assistance and fire tenders had to be sought to douse the flames during various incidents in 2019.

As the fire department finds itself in shambles, the city of Karachi seems to be sitting on a tinderbox, in the backdrop of an increase in the number of fire incidents amid the unusually cold weather that has gripped the city lately.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 6^th, 2020.