KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 13
The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration has developed training materials for operation of fire engines and other equipment in the local levels.
As per the MoFAGA, the materials will be used by trainers to provide training to local level staffers on ways to operate the fire engines and equipment while fighting various types of fire. They include fire caused by combustible solid materials, flammable liquids such as petrol and diesel, gases, alkali and alkaline earth metals at the workplace, and electrical short-circuit.
The materials also aim to bring about uniformity in training programmes and are in compliance with the existing Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, Forests Act, Fire Engine Operation and Management Procedure and National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategic Action Plan (2018-2030).
The above-mentioned procedure was recently issued to enable the local levels to provide reliable service to citizens and save lives by fighting fires in their areas. As per the procedure, rural municipalities and municipalities may acquire fire engines from the federal government, provincial government, donor agencies or other organisations/ persons.
The existing provisions require the local levels to keep the fire engine on standby roundthe-clock.
"The local level shall make arrangement to send the fire engine to the incident site within two minutes of information about fire," the procedure reads. Disaster Management Section of the concerned local level is responsible for operation of the fire engine.
According to the law, the office of village/municipal executive shall provide necessary budget for regular maintenance of fire engine. There is the provision of a team comprising at least seven persons for management and operation of the fire engine in the local levels. They include a leader, two drivers and four firemen.
The local levels have made the provision of accident insurance of up to Rs one million for firefighters and has provided them with safety gear. It is mandatory for a municipality to have a fire engine, excavator, roller, dozer and garbage truck.
Fire hazards are responsible for loss of lives and property every year. As per the figure provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs, as many as 104 persons, including 61 females, have been killed and 384 others injured in fire-related incidents reported from 13 November 2020 to 13 November 2021. Similarly, 3,491 families were affected by fire-related incidents during the same period. The estimated loss from fire-induced disasters is around Rs. 2.05 billion. Fire-related incidents are on the rise in urban areas due to unplanned settlement and excessive use of plastic materials.
A version of this article appears in the print on November 14, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.
