Fire Service and Civil Defence department is yet to identify the causes behind the apparent increase in the number of fire incidents in the country.
A massive explosion or fire incident occurs involving businesses, none of the regulatory authorities accept any responsibility. Around 24,000 fire incidents take place every year.
Electric short circuits were the leading cause of fire incidents, while fire from thrown away burning cigarette butts accounted for the second position of the total fire incidents.
A total of 2,360 fire incidents were reported across Bangladesh in December, claiming the lives of eight people and injuring 18.
On average five fire incidents have been reported in Dhaka city every day in the month of October, most of them occurred in the Mirpur area, Fire Service and Civil Defence sources said.
Of them, 192 fire incidents occurred in the areas under two Dhaka city corporations, averaging seven incidents a day. The information was disclosed in a press release issued by the Fire Service and Civil Defence Media Cell on January 3.
Around 1,000 shelters were gutted in a fire that broke out at Camp 5 of the Rohingya refugees in Coxs Bazars Ukhiya on January 6.
Ukhiya Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Shamim Hossein said the fire originated at Block A of Camp No. 5 and spread to four blocks. Upon receiving the information, Fire Service teams rushed to the spot and doused the fire.
According to the press release, out of 2,360 fire incidents across the country in December, 571 were reported in Dhaka division, 95 in Mymensingh, 308 in Chittagong, 445 in Rajshahi, 160 in Khulna, 80 in Sylhet, 97 in Barisal, and 604 in Rangpur.
Monthly statistics showed that the number of fires increased from November to December. Last November, 2,035 fire incidents occurred across the country. Meanwhile, four people were killed and four injured in 192 arson incidents in the Dhaka City Corporation area.
The press release further stated that in December, 827 accidents around the country required the involvement of the Fire Service and Civil Defence in rescue operations. There were 100 fatalities and 834 injuries. which includes 675 auto accidents.
In addition, there were 36 occurrences involving kitchen gas cylinder explosions, nine involving gas line malfunctions, 12 involving lifts and 34 involving drowning in rivers and water bodies. Some 24 people nationwide died as a result of drowning in ponds, rivers, or other bodies of water.
Some 181 accidents were reported in Dhaka division, 38 in Mymensingh, 105 in Chittagong, 209 in Rajshahi, 115 in Khulna, 19 in Sylhet, 51 in Barisal, and 109 in Rangpur.
In December, Fire Service and Civil Defence provided services to 4,610 calls for fire and various accidents from all over the country. Besides, 941 patients were transported responding to 946 calls and provided ambulance services.
So far, 436 fire stations have been set up across the country. According to Fire services some 204 fire service stations were in the country in 2008 and the government has set up 232 new fire stations. The government also set up 155 more fire service stations. With the new stations the total number will be 720.
Once upon a time, the fire service had the ability to put out fires and conduct rescue operations up to a nine-floor of building only. But at present that capacity has reached up to a 20-floor building, according to the Fire Service.
