International Fire Fighters Day: Motorcycle response force answers promptly in Karachi’s narrow streets

Saylani Welfare Trust's new fleet designed to combat fire emergencies in slums.

KARACHI:

For the mean and narrow streets of Karachi, an innovative motorcycle response force has been formed to deal with any emergency.

With their sirens flashing and horns blaring, these motorcycles can squeeze their way through the narrowest of gaps to reach those hard-to-reach areas of slums where fire trucks fail. Just call '1022' and these motorcycles will be there in no time.

The motorcycle rapid response force was introduced by the Saylani Welfare Trust to help with fire emergencies in the city slums after the tragic fire at the Baldia garments factory that killed more than 250 people.

The trust's patron-in-chief, Maulana Muhammad Bashir Farooqui, recalled the tragic day. "My heart bled for the people who were engulfed in the Baldia factory fire. It was no less than qayamat [Day of Judgement]," he said.

Soon after the incident, Saylani decided to launch their motorcycle fire brigade force. Saylani Welfare Trust is a registered charity and an independent non-governmental organisation. Inspired by Islamic teachings, Maulana Farooqui founded the trust in 1999 from a tiny office that cost them Rs3,000 in rent.

"When we started working in 1999, we had only one prayer - may Allah give us the strength to serve the ummat of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) in every sector," said Farooqui. "Right now, we are providing services in 63 sectors."

One of these projects is the 'rescue bikes' that carry two water cylinders, a foam and a cartridge cylinder along with a 30-foot-long pipe reel. The water extinguishers can carry up to 45 litres of water while each of the portable cylinders have the capacity to carry six kilogrammes of dry chemical and carbon dioxide. In addition, the two-wheeler is equipped with oxygen cylinders, a gas cutter, a first aid kit and a wireless system to remain in contact with the control room.

"Fire bikes provide much better access to the narrow lanes and the limited-access areas where the fire trucks would reach after a considerable delay," pointed out Saylani's chief fire fighter, Abdul Waheed.

Right now, the team has 16 fire fighters, who were trained by the Civil Defence Training School, and eight motorcycles. Since their launch in January 2014, the team has successfully completed nine tasks in the city. They have climbed hundreds of flights of stairs, rushed into burning buildings, smoke-filled cars and put out fires set on the roads during riots, he added.

Three rescue centres — one each at Numaish Chowrangi, Tower and Nazimabad No.2 — have been set up so far, said Waheed, adding that their response time is 10 minutes. "We wish to establish rescue centres at every roundabout in the city."

He recalled a recent incident when a fire broke out in a slum and spread to a nearby building in Ghareebabad. The building suffered fire damages but the fire fighters managed to extinguish the blaze before it spread any further, he said, adding proudly that they managed to put out the fire before the fire trucks reached the spot. "The jubilant spectators lifted us on their shoulders," said a fire fighter, Sohail Khan. "That was the best reward of it."

The response force keeps other organisations and their other stations informed in case their support is needed, Waheed pointed out.

The government officials are also happy about his wonderful initiative and agreed that it will help save lives and properties of citizens. "We would love to work with anyone who owns the city," said the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation Municipal Services' Senior Director Ghulam Rasool.

The chief fire fighter admitted that these rescue motorcycles are not equipped to put out large fires. They can help control the situation and help save lives until the larger fire trucks arrive, he explained. "To control the fire before it becomes a threat is crucial," he said. "Many a times, lives and properties are lost because a small fire turns into a big one before the heavy fire trucks reach the spot."

As motivation among the team members run high, the trust has placed an order for 25 more motorcycles to add to their fleet.

.Published in The Express Tribune, May 4^th, 2014.