Fire Service in Ctg needs scaling up
Saturday, 4 April 2009
Our Correspondent
CHITTAGONG, April 3: Sources have revealed that the Chittagong Fire Service is not properly equipped to fight fire in buildings that are over six storeys high.
Any incident of fire in such structures may cause loss of valuable lives not to speak of property. However, this has not held up construction of high rise buildings which is going on in full swing in the city and other parts of the district where the fire code is hardly complied with.
The Chittagong Develop-ment Authority (CDA) accords permission for such construction but there are high rise buildings on narrow streets where in case of fire it would be extremely difficult for fire trucks to manoeuvre. In that case the fire may spread and cause large scaled destruction even within a short time. So, how they got permission for construction? There are two obvious answers: they either didn't bother about it or they greased some people's palms.
Sources said that clearance of the Fire Service is mandatory for constructing any building exceeding six storeys. However, this is not followed in many cases.
Around 400 multi-storied buildings are located in Chittagong City and of them only 20 percent are equipped with fire fighting capability.
CHITTAGONG, April 3: Sources have revealed that the Chittagong Fire Service is not properly equipped to fight fire in buildings that are over six storeys high.
Any incident of fire in such structures may cause loss of valuable lives not to speak of property. However, this has not held up construction of high rise buildings which is going on in full swing in the city and other parts of the district where the fire code is hardly complied with.
The Chittagong Develop-ment Authority (CDA) accords permission for such construction but there are high rise buildings on narrow streets where in case of fire it would be extremely difficult for fire trucks to manoeuvre. In that case the fire may spread and cause large scaled destruction even within a short time. So, how they got permission for construction? There are two obvious answers: they either didn't bother about it or they greased some people's palms.
Sources said that clearance of the Fire Service is mandatory for constructing any building exceeding six storeys. However, this is not followed in many cases.
Around 400 multi-storied buildings are located in Chittagong City and of them only 20 percent are equipped with fire fighting capability.