There were some 5,376 fires nationwide in 1996, a figure that rose to 27,624 last year, representing a 413 per cent increase over 27 years.
This rise in fires coincides with Bangladesh's growing industrialisation and urbanisation roughly over the past two decades, according to Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence data.
In 2023, there were 27,624 fire incidents across the country, compared to 24,102 in 2022 and 21,601 in 2021. These figures reflect a steady rise in fire incidents over recent years.
Fire service identifies leaky gas lines, LPG cylinder and broiler blasts, along with smoking-related fires and short circuits, as the key causes of fire accidents.
The recent deadly fire on Bailey Road, which claimed 46 lives, has reignited concerns about fire safety. Amid the shock of the tragedy, at least 15 people were injured in a gas cylinder explosion on Thursday in port city Chattogram.
These frequent incidents have prompted firefighters to renew their calls for better fire safety measures.
These calls include better coordination between public agencies on safety measures, capacity building to minimise fire losses and increased public awareness campaigns.
Brigadier General (Retired) Ali Ahmed Khan, a former Director General of the Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence, has called for a collaborative task force comprising city corporations, fire departments and law enforcement agencies to tackle the fire hazard.
He urged Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company to identify and replace old and illegal gas pipelines.
The disaster and emergency risk management specialist also advocated individual precautions in preventing fire incidents, particularly regarding the safe use of gas systems indoors.
For LPG cylinder transportation through public places, Brigadier General Khan said there are Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) guidelines but those rules are hardly maintained.
The number of fire incidents in the country, along with the extent of property damage and fatalities, has increased alarmingly between 2006 and 2023. Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence data shows that 2,506 people died and 12,780 others were injured in fire incidents during this period.
The former director general of the fire service said strict enforcement of existing regulations can mitigate fire risks and curb hazardous practices such as the secondary refilling of LPG cylinders in Rohingya communities in Cox's Bazar and rural areas.
Fire service details fire casualties for the past years. In 2023, at least 102 people died and 281 were injured in fires. The figures for 2022 were 85 deaths and 377 injuries, while 2021 saw a higher death toll of 219 and 570 injuries.
Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury, director (Operations and Maintenance) of the Department of Fire Service and Civil Defence, linked the rise in gas-related fire incidents primarily to a lack of public awareness and user negligence.
To tackle fire incidents and to reduce casualties and property losses, he suggested improved coordination among all stakeholders, including Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company and the Department of Explosives.
The fire service director said they are focusing on preventive measures, such as large-scale public awareness campaigns. However, resource constraints and a shortage of manpower hinder the efforts.
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