Effective steps should be taken to check fire incidents

Five fire incidents have taken place across the country including the capital in a span of four days (Friday to Monday). Of the fire incidents, the deadliest fire broke out at a ready-made garments factory in Chandra Palli Bidyut area of Kaliakoir upazila in Gazipur. These fire incidents have created a grave concern as usual.

The fire ensued on the second floor of a five-storey building of Tropical Composite Factory in the area Friday night and soon spread to other floors. The firefighting units brought the fire under control after 31 hours of their frantic efforts on Sunday morning. Fire broke out at the six floor of Bashundhara City shopping complex in the capital`s Panthapath area that morning. The fire came under control after about 10-hour frantic effort. A man died of suffocation after a fire erupted around 8:30am on Monday at a ground-floor shop of the six-storey building in capital`s Mirpur area. The fire was tamed after about 1-hour frantic effort.

It is here to be noted that electrical short circuit is said to be the reason behind the fire in every case according to initial investigation report after the incident. Security guards at Bashundhara City shopping complex alleged that they did not get any alert signal after the fire originates. So it took time to douse the blaze. Earlier on March 13, 2009, the Bashundhara City shopping complex caught fire and at least seven people were killed and many others injured. Later in 2015, the shopping mall caught fire again.

Several things are to be considered at any fire incident. Of them, two things are important. One is to take adequate cautionary measure to stop fire and the other is to take huge preparation so that the fire can be brought under control soon after the incident. Besides, it is necessary to check electric equipments of the building to avoid the electrical short circuit. In many cases, huge casualties and loss of assets are reported due to the negligence of building authority.

The people will have to be more conscious to prevent the fire incident. In line with it, the authority of each building will have to ensure adequate fire fighting system. Besides, action will be taken against those who will show reluctance to take effective steps.

risingbd/Dhaka/Aug 23, 2016/Shahed/Amirul