Fighting fires

The federal government has recently imported dozens of fire tenders and dedicated around 50 of them, including large snorkels, to the financial hub of the country, Karachi. Some of these will be given to the industrial areas operating in the city while some others will go to a few charitable organisations operating their own mini-fire services. This is a welcome and a long-overdue gesture on the part of the federal government.

A city of the expanse, density and magnitude of Karachi, which has seen multiple industrial incidents where infernos have caused heavy damage in terms of human, material and financial loss, has but a handful of operational fire trucks parked in government-run fire stations around the city. Fewer still are large trucks with telescopic ladders and arms which are capable of reaching upper floors of its fast-developing high-rises. At a ceremony to dedicate the recently imported fire tenders, the governor relayed that of the 40 fire tenders present in the city, only 11 are operational. Industrialists have also raised the alarm that in one of the oldest industrial estates of the city, SITE, there is just one fire tender available, stationed at the sole fire station servicing the entire estate.

While it is true that most industrial units in the city, rather the country, have poor or non-existent fire safety mechanisms, drills and equipment — something which should be ensured by the Civil Defence department — it still does not address the issues which arose during past major industrial fires where the response from the fire department was either slow or inadequate to tackle the size and nature of the blaze. There is a need to revamp the entire fire department of Karachi, including increasing the number of fire stations, firemen and the number of fire trucks. Further, there is a need to ensure the provision of adequate funds to keep these imported trucks in working order apart from ensuring that industries and other workplaces follow prescribed fire safety guidelines and train staff.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 25^th, 2021.

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