Wasa struggles to serve fire trucks as city expands

LAHORE:

Amid rapid expansion of the city limits, there is no adequate fire extinguishing system in about 70% of the area of the provincial capital.

Only 30% of the areas have facilities under the city authorities for Rescue 1122 and fire brigade personnel coping with fires.

Several major fire incidents have taken place in Lahore during the last 10 years, including those at LDA Egerton Road office, Shah Alam Market, MM Alam Road and Hafeez Centre, which not only claimed several lives but also caused loss of billions of rupees to citizens.

After the current government came to power, the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) allowed the construction of unlimited high-rise buildings but enough steps have not been taken to ensure safety standards. According to the LDA and metropolitan corporation’s bylaws, small and large commercial buildings must have hydrants for water supply to extinguish fire, alternative exits and fire extinguishing equipment.

However, as commercialisation of areas continues in the city, buildings are being constructed without the enforcement of the building bylaws.

While construction of high-rise buildings is being allowed, the departments set up to cope with emergencies are not being equipped accordingly. If a fire breaks out on the eighth or 10th floor of a building, neither Rescue 1122 nor the fire brigade have adequate equipment to rescue those stuck at such a height. There is also a shortage of chemicals, oxygen masks, boots and equipment to control different types of fires.

Training of fire fighting staff in accordance with the changing needs is also required.

More than half of the vehicles of the fire brigade are old. Some have leaking pipes that cause wastage of water at sites of fires. Addressing the deficiencies may help contain the losses caused by fire incidents. Officials of the metropolitan corporation, the housing department and disaster management authorities have their own reservations about the LDA’s permission to construct buildings.

They say the construction should be accompanied by arrangements for facilities including municipal services, transport, environmental protection and firefighting.

According to the record of the metropolitan corporation, the area of the city has spread to 1,770 square kilometres. There are more private housing societies built in the agricultural area around Lahore as compared to government schemes.

Most of them were given permission by the LDA but the provision of the facilities and safety measures has not been ensured.

The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) has installed 2,000 hydrants for fire fighting and water supply the area under its control, which is about one-third of the total area of the city. Fire brigade vehicles fill water from the hydrants and carry it to extinguish the fires.

The remaining 70% of the area, which is growing in terms of population, has no hydrants and fire fighting facilities.

According to the record of the past decade, there have been 4,985 fire incidents reported in Lahore.

It is estimated that more than 1,100 buildings have been constructed in the city without complying with the bylaws regarding fire safety and emergency exit.

When contacted, Director Disaster Management Authority Raja Mohammad Khurram said the agencies concerned were helped in major operations and providing equipment. He acknowledged that if there was a fire on the 10th floor or above, there was no ladder to reach there. In case of intense fires, assistance is taken from army helicopters.

Deputy Managing Director Wasa Aslam Niazi said the agency’s jurisdiction was limited to 350 square kilometres.

He said the fire brigade hydrants were located in Wasa’s area but their service was provided across the city. There should be a comprehensive fire fighting system with other facilities wherever a new city area is developed.

Municipal Officer Services Mudassar Jinnah said if all the facilities are provided nearby, fires can be doused quickly. Keeping in view the situation, there is a need to bring the LDA, municipal corporation, housing department and Wasa on one platform for better coordination among them. The government has introduced laws bring the institutions under the local government system but the move has not been implemented, which may lead to problems.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 5^th, 2020.