کشمیر میں سرما کے دوران آتشزدگی کے واقعات میں زبردست اضافہ ہوجاتا ہے، سال رواں کے پہلے ہفتے میں آگ کی 41 وارداتیں پیش آئیں۔
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00:00In Wadi-e-Kashmir, the monsoon season is at its peak, and in these months, we are seeing a positive increase in the number of cases of COVID-19.
00:09And according to the figures, in the first week of Sali Rawa, about 42 cases of COVID-19 have been reported.
00:17And even today, in Dargah Hazratbal, a case of COVID-19 has been reported, in which several houses have been evacuated.
00:25Why are these incidents more prevalent in the winter months?
00:30We have with us the Deputy Director of Fire and Emergency Services, Aqib Hussain Mir Sahib.
00:37Welcome to ETV Bharat.
00:39First of all, I would like to know that in Wadi-e-Kashmir, in these months, we are seeing a positive increase in the number of cases of COVID-19.
00:46What are the figures that you have shown?
00:50As you said, in the first week of this year, we saw about 41 fire incidents.
00:57In Srinagar, there were 8 fire incidents.
01:01And in the last year, in 2024, there were about 7,000 fire incidents in total in J&K.
01:09In which, the structural fires were about 44%.
01:13And in the last year, there were more fire incidents because of dry spells in January and February.
01:21There were dry spells in the summers as well.
01:23And then, in December, before the snowfall, there were dry spells.
01:28And because of that, the vegetation dries up a lot.
01:32And later, when moisture comes out of things, it acts like a fuel.
01:37So, because of a small spark, the chance of a fire incident increases.
01:42So, especially because it is still the winter season, and we know that people use heating gadgets to heat themselves in the summer.
01:51So, some people use gas, some use electric current-based gadgets.
01:56But along with using these gadgets, we have to follow safety precautions.
02:02Especially, when we buy such gadgets from the market, we have to procure standard equipment.
02:07We have to avoid all standard equipment.
02:09Especially, the ISI mark on all equipment is very important.
02:16Because some products are manufactured locally and do not have quality tests.
02:20So, having an ISI mark means that you are quite sure about its quality and safety.
02:26So, after that, when you procure such gadgets from the market, you should use these gadgets properly.
02:32Use them judiciously.
02:34And sometimes, due to our negligence, or sometimes we use such gadgets at night, due to which the fire risk increases.
02:44And the structures in Kashmir, generally the construction, even though we use concrete, which has a fire resistance.
02:51But along with that, the excessive timber we use in the shape of paneling, etc.
02:56So, because of that, the structures we have, they are prone to fire incidents.
03:00So, as soon as these gadgets make a mistake, because of us, due to that, these structures are prone to fire.
03:08Mr. Akif, tell us, you said that LPG gas is used more, or we have blowers, etc. which we use for heat.
03:18Do you think this is the reason for the fire incidents that you have seen so far?
03:24Absolutely. There is no doubt about it.
03:26Because the majority of the fire incidents, 99% of the fire incidents, are due to human negligence.
03:32Only 1% is due to natural causes, like lightning, etc. Spontaneous combustion.
03:38So, the 99% I am telling, if I break it up, then 90% of the fire incidents are due to electric short circuits.
03:50When you have an incident, people complain that the fire and emergency services do not come on time.
03:56Look, it is necessary to clarify a few things in this.
03:59The response of the fire and emergency department is a communication-dependent response.
04:04Because if we are here now, our department will not know that there is a fire incident, until you call us and give us information.
04:13And generally, when there is a fire, people first try to put out the fire themselves.
04:19Absolutely.
04:20They pick up their belongings.
04:21At the end, they remember that they have to call the fire service.
04:24And in the meantime, a lot of golden hour, which we call fire, comes out.
04:28Because of which, the loss should be much more.
04:31So, we request people again and again.
04:34Because the action of the fire and emergency department starts when you give us information.
04:39So, you should remember the 101 number.
04:42So, when you call on 101, our state control room will be called.
04:46And then the state control room will transfer the call to the nearest fire station.
04:50And based on the structure involved in the fire, we dispatch our men and missionaries.
04:55So, we request people there to keep the control room number of the fire services handy.
05:02When you do not reach on time, there is a difference of a few minutes.
05:05What is the delay of the department there?
05:07Look, there is no delay in this.
05:09The response of the fire and emergency department is very fast, it is very prompt.
05:14As soon as the call comes to our control room, the next course of action is done by the department.
05:21So, there is a call transfer time.
05:23Within a minute, our call is transferred to the nearest fire station.
05:28And from there, their turnout starts.
05:30And our turnout also happens in less than one minute.
05:32After that, when our car comes out of the station.
05:35After that, if it is daytime, there may be traffic congestion.
05:39In that, the traffic police cooperates.
05:41The police department cooperates.
05:43And we especially request people.
05:45Because a lot of people still do not give way when they hear the siren of our car.
05:50So, they have to understand these things.
05:52Or parked cars on the road.
05:54Absolutely.
05:55We see that especially at night hours.
05:57And especially at night hours, when we see wrong parking, it becomes very difficult to remove them.
06:02There too, we repeatedly request people to identify parking slots in their areas.
06:07Because when we reach the spot, we get such cars.
06:10First, they have to be removed.
06:11Their owners have to be identified.
06:13Because in the golden hour of fire, if we do firefighting and rescue.
06:18We will be able to save maximum life and property.
06:21When there was a fire in Navata yesterday.
06:23The firemen and officers of our department did a great job.
06:27Because of this, we have safeguarded other structures in the community.
06:32Because, Mr. Akif, we know that you are also from here.
06:35There is no such facility in Garu that can put out a fire on time.
06:40But you also do annual audit.
06:42Fire audit, which is called the commercial complex.
06:46Or you do it in the commercial center.
06:48But there is no such facility in Garu.
06:50So, what comes out of the fire audit?
06:53Absolutely, the fire safety audit.
06:56Because all the occupancies we have, the fire safety needs are different.
07:02The fire safety needs for residential structures.
07:04That will be different than the fire safety needs for the commercial building.
07:08Say, for example, for an industrial setup.
07:11There you have to apply more fire safety measures.
07:14Because the department does not have enforcement powers yet.
07:18So, on demand, when we get a request to do a fire audit.
07:22Forget residential, all the structures, we do a fire audit.
07:26Our safety officer goes there.
07:29Based on the hazard analysis.
07:31Based on the National Building Code of India and the Bureau of Indian Standards.
07:34We audit it and issue recommendations.
07:36Now, there are some occupancies that do not implement those guidelines.
07:41Or even after that, it is unfortunate that after implementing it.
07:45There is no one to operate or maintain it.
07:48And after that, if we have such equipment.
07:52So, when there is a fire incident, we generally see that there is no use of it.
07:56Along with this, as I told you.
07:58Generally, there is no fire audit for residential structures.
08:01But again and again, we tell in our programs.
08:03At least, you keep two types of extinguishers in your house.
08:06In which there is a CO2 type fire extinguisher.
08:09Which can deal with electrical fires at home.
08:13You can keep your electric panel board near it.
08:18Whenever there is an electric fault, you can use it.
08:21You can keep 4.5 kg.
08:23And along with it, there is ABC type.
08:25It has monounmonium phosphate.
08:27It is of 6 kg or 5 kg.
08:29It seems that it deals with ABC type of fires.
08:32If we keep these two extinguishers in every house.
08:35Whose cost can be roughly 5,000, 6,000 or 7,000 rupees.
08:39So, we have a very big property.
08:42You know that there is property in crores.
08:45So, if we procure such things one time.
08:48Because after that we have to refill them.
08:51And the refilling cost is less than that.
08:54So, because of that, our property of crores can be safeguarded.
08:58So, you think that we take careless and lethally.
09:02When we make a structure.
09:04What are the requirements?
09:06There are many things in design.
09:08Complete fire safety.
09:10In fire safety, we just have to keep fire extinguisher.
09:12It is not fire safety.
09:14In complete fire safety, fire preventive measures.
09:16Life safety measures.
09:17Fire protective measures.
09:19If someone keeps a gas cylinder in his house.
09:22It is a hazard.
09:24So, naturally the risk increases.
09:26And the probability of fire increases.
09:28So, we repeatedly tell people.
09:30Fire preventive measures.
09:32Especially in your building construction.
09:34You can use fire resistant materials.
09:38Nowadays, doors and windows are made of UPVC.
09:40Along with this, highly combustible, inflammable or hazardous substances.
09:44We store.
09:45If we don't do that.
09:47The likelihood of fire can be less.
09:49We will do electrical audits.
09:52So, when we do all these things.
09:54This is fire preventive measure.
09:56In life safety, we tell how many exits you should have.
09:59If there is a fire in a building.
10:01And its exits are complicated.
10:03So, the occupants will not understand.
10:05How to get out?
10:06And when they get out.
10:07If there is a staircase involved.
10:09What alternative staircase do they have?
10:11So, we tell these things in life safety.
10:13Along with this, fire protection measures.
10:15If there is a fire.
10:17Even though you are following the fire preventive measures.
10:19So, do you have an extinguisher?
10:21Do you have a hose reel?
10:23So, you can deal with this fire.
10:25Because whenever you inform the fire department.
10:27Obviously, the fire department will take its time.
10:29Based on the distance.
10:30It may take 5 to 7 minutes.
10:32But the initial time of fire.
10:34When it can be controlled.
10:36That is also 5 to 6 minutes.
10:38And if in every house.
10:40One person is trained.
10:42And has an extinguisher.
10:44So, a very big emergency.
10:46It can be prevented from happening.
10:48Because when we talk about fire audit.
10:50You give NOC.
10:52Or you see for yourself.
10:54About the fire audit.
10:56And there are those tools there.
10:58Which can initially control you.
11:00But when you present a report.
11:02To different departments.
11:04So, what response do you get?
11:06Do you think the same thing repeats?
11:08Which should not have happened.
11:10After your audit.
11:12Or without giving NOC?
11:14See.
11:16The department does not issue NOC.
11:18Until there are fire safety measures in place.
11:20But there are many occupancies.
11:22For which we did a fire audit.
11:24And they implemented those things.
11:26And there are such occupancies.
11:28Which have such dedicated teams.
11:30Which operates and maintains it.
11:32Although there are some occupancies.
11:34Whose department has not issued NOC.
11:36But the recommendations we issue.
11:38They do not implement them.
11:40If we do not implement them 100%.
11:42Then the fire department will not issue NOC.
11:44To those people.
11:46See, our director Shri Alok Kumar Sir.
11:48Recently, an advisory issue was issued by him.
11:50So, I would like to tell people.
11:52Through your medium.
11:54That whatever gadgets you are using.
11:56In the winter season.
11:58First of all, as I said.
12:00Check the ISI mark.
12:02Do not procure all standard equipment from the market.
12:04Such gadgets.
12:06When we go to sleep.
12:08We turn off such gadgets.
12:10Or when we go out of the house.
12:12Our main electrical switch.
12:14We turn it off.
12:16Use MCBs properly.
12:18And especially the ones that catch fire due to LPG.
12:20We recently saw a suffocation incident.
12:22Which is carbon monoxide.
12:24Very deadly gas.
12:26Because there too.
12:28We need to take care of ventilation.
12:30Such equipment.
12:32Because the monsoon comes every year.
12:34So every year when the monsoon comes.
12:36We need to take care of them.
12:38Do their servicing.
12:40After that, we use them.
12:42And whenever we use them.
12:44Use them safely.
12:46Follow the do's and don'ts.
12:48Thank you very much.