World Firefighting Day: Teachers, students to be trained in firefighting

KARACHI:

The city administration has decided to train over 50 teachers who will in turn train their students in firefighting.

This idea was proposed to mark the World Firefighting Day that falls on May 4. Special training will also be provided to schoolchildren, lecturers, scouts and other members of civil society. In the next phase, the existing fire department will also be improved.



On Monday, Commissioner Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui met the officials of 20 different departments and discussed the disaster-like situation that emerges every time there is a fire at a public place. During the meeting, he also announced that the city government will observe Youm-e-Shuhada on May 4 to pay tribute to those firemen who sacrificed their lives during emergencies.

"We have planned to provide basic training in firefighting to around 50 teachers and administrators of 50 hospital and other departments with the help of NED University," said Siddiqui. "With the help of the fire department, we have already provided basic training to 270 schoolteachers and other staff of the commissioner's office."

Siddiqui added that their efforts do not end here. "The training of the schoolchildren, teachers and employees of different departments is the initial step. Later, we must improve the efficiency of our fire department by giving modern training and a well-equipped workforce."

An official in the fire department revealed the deplorable condition of the fire department. "The department is unable to handle any emergency due to poor infrastructure, vehicles that are out-of-order and workforce that needs training," said an official on the condition of anonymity.

The city witnesses around 5,000 fire incidents every year, according to chief fire officer Ehtishamuddin Siddiqui. "The fire department is, however, facing the most difficult situation and more than 30 firefighters have lost their lives in the line of duty," he told The Express Tribune.

He appreciated the city government's announcement of a day to commemorate the firefighters who have lost their lives.

Meanwhile, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation's senior director for municipal services Masood Alam pointed out that high-rise buildings, cramped malls and other buildings pose major hindrances in firefighting since there is a lack of an internal fire safety system, such as fire evacuation system, internal hydrants, proper emergency exits and broad staircases.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 16^th, 2014.