A total of 17 upazilas in Barisal division have no fire service station, while 610 fire incidents caused damage worth more than Tk 14 crore in the division this year. A total of 103 fire incidents also occurred last year. Sources of Barisal divisional fire service and civil defense station (FSCD) claimed that they had saved properties worth Tk 72 crore this year by extinguishing fire quickly. Modern fire fighting equipments, however, have been included in the station recently. The equipments include fume tender, jumping air pad, hydraulic spreader, hydraulic cluster, hydraulic ram jacket, power curter, search camera, thermal amazing camera and hydraulic door opener which have increased the strength of the service.
SM Lutfar Rahman, assistant director of Barisal divisional fire service and civil defense directorate, said of the 42 upazilas of six districts in Barisal division, only 25 upazilas including Barisal city corporation have fire service stations.
Besides, the only river fire service unit with a speed boat and a launch is also stationed at Barisal port to cover the vast riverine areas and shoals of the division. Barisal divisional fire service and civil defense directorate sources said Banaripara, Uzirpur, Gournadi of Barisal Sadar, Kathalia, Nalchhity of Jhalakathi Sadar, Lalmohan, Charfashion, Borhanuddin of Bhola Sadar, Mathbaria, Bhandaria, Kawkhali and Nazirpur of Pirojpur Sadar, Baufal of Patuakhali Sadar and Amtali and Patharghata of Barguna also have fire service stations.
Of the 22 stations, only the fire service station of Barisal City Corporation (BCC) was upgraded to level one last month, while other stations remained at the second level. Besides, three more fire service stations at Swarupkathi under Pirojpur, Mehendiganj under Barisal, Daulatkhan under Bhola and Kolapara of Patuakhali are scheduled to start functioning soon.
However, lands have already been allotted for the constructions of four more fire service stations at Rupatali, Ichhakati under the BCC, Dumki and Mirjaganj of Patuakhali, while processes of land accusation are underway at Bakerganj, Babuganj and Agoijhara upazilas of Barisal, Tajumuddin upazila of Bhola, Rajapur of Jhalakathi and Zianagar of Pirojpur. There are also no fire service stations in Muladi and Hizla upazila of Barisal, Monpura of Bhola, Dasmina of Patuakhali and Betagi and Bamna of Barguna.
Barisal divisional FSCD sources said electric short circuits have been detected as the main causes of most of the fire incidents. Besides, lack of awareness and failure to inform FSCD immediately increased damages by fire incidents, they added.
To strengthen fire fighting units in the division, the speakers stressed on using modern equipments at the FSCD office.
-With The Independent input
