RESCUE 1122’S FIRE SERVICE RESPONDS TO 11138 FIRE EMERGENCIES IN 2014

Lahore: DG Rescue Punjab Dr. Rizwan Naseer while reviewing performance of Fire Service of Rescue 1122 said that it was the need of the hour to ensure implementation of Fire & Life Safety Byelaws to prevent these increasing numbers of Fire Incidents and protect the citizens especially those living in high rise buildings. He said that back-to-back fire incidents take place due to violation or poor implementation of fire & life safety codes and unplanned urbanization. He also asserted upon the need for timely call in case of fires for effective firefighting. He further said that only if clear fire exits were there in the major fire emergencies in Lahore & Karachi, loss of so many precious lives would not have taken place. 

During a briefing, the Provincial Monitoring Cell (PMC) revealed that Fire Service has responded to 11138 fire emergencies; saved losses worth over Rs. 24 billion and rescued 829 emergency victims just because of timely response and professional firefighting on modern lines in all districts of Punjab during 2014. The PMC further said some 85 people died during fire emergencies all over the Punjab including 30 in Lahore; 10 in Rawalpindi and 11 in Faisalabad. The data further says some 4440 fire cases took place due to Short Circuiting; 426 due to gas leakage and the cause of 1267 fire incidents was  ascertained as carelessness. The PMC maintained that 106 cases were reported in LPG Cylinder blasts; 42 fireworks, 43 candle lights, 106 kitchen fires, 78 forest fires, 3188 unknown, 1443 other fires. Rescue 1122’s Fire Service shifted 503 injured persons to different hospitals in Punjab, whereas 248 people were provided first aid. The comparative analysis further shows that total 3936 fire emergencies took place in commercial areas and 3478 in residential and 3724 in other areas.  

DG Rescue Punjab Dr. Rizwan Naseer said that although the Rescue 1122’s modern Fire Service since its start in 2007, has saved losses worth over Rs 170 billion while providing swift response to over 60,000 fire incidents and professional firefighting on modern lines, there was a dire need to establish an effective Fire Prevention system and an effective Land Use & Building Control Authority. Even if we establish the best fire service in the world, it cannot do effective firefighting without hydrants, inside and outside the buildings. Furthermore clear exits and essential fire detection systems should also be available in the buildings to save human lives. He, however, said that the owners of high rise buildings should ensure safe building construction; installation of proper emergency exits & stairs, fire alarms, availability of fire extinguishers, fire hydrants & sprinklers systems for high rise buildings, industry & warehouses for prevention of fire emergencies. He further said the owners of industrial units and occupants of high-rise buildings should also realize the significance of proper exits & fire safety and requested them not to risk their lives and their business by evading safety measures for limited financial gains compared to the total investments. —