Fire prevention is always the best way to achieve fire safety in any multi-storied commercial building or cosy residential homes. However, having the proper fire extinguishers readily available to control small fires before they turn into large infernos is essential.

Fire extinguishers are crucial safety equipment in any commercial building, but their effectiveness depends on proper building design and construction. In most cases, the causes of fire are electrical short circuits, burning cigarette butts, stove fires, gas pipe leakage etc. Fire extinguishers are useful tools necessary for saving lives and property during fire incidents.

In 2010, a fire broke out in a chemical warehouse in Nimtoli. In 2012, there was a fire at Tazreen Fashions. In 2019, an explosion occurred at a chemical warehouse in Churihatta, Chawkbazar, Old Dhaka, followed by a fire incident on March 28 of the same year at the multi-storied commercial building FR Tower in Banani.  As of 2023, the Directorate of Fire Service and Civil Defence had inspected 5,374 buildings across the country and identified 1,694 buildings as dangerous and 424 as extremely fire-prone.

In Bangladesh, densely populated areas face fire safety challenges, and there are existing legal framework to reduce the risk. Its main objective is to ensure sustainable and eco-friendly multi-storied buildings and reduce the risk of fire incidents. Particularly, ‘Fire Prevention and Extinguishing Act-2003’ is very significant for ensuring fire safety in Bangladesh.

It provides specific rules for fire prevention, suppression, and evacuation systems in functioning buildings. Section 4 of the Act states that if any person uses any building or place as a warehouse or factory without a license, he shall face the penalty of three years’ imprisonment along with a fine, and all the goods of that building or place shall be confiscated. According to section 18 of the Act, if a person fails to comply with any license condition, he shall be punished with six months’ imprisonment and a fine.

According to section 19 of the Act, anyone who intentionally obstructs officers of the department, supporting organisations, or institutions, or vandalises equipment or vehicles used in operational work (such as ambulances) may be punished with imprisonment for up to seven years and a fine. And as per section 21 of the Act, if any person in violation of the provisions of this Act stores, processes, compacts, or sorts combustible material in any building or place, he shall be punished with imprisonment for two years and fine, and the Government shall confiscate the flammable material.

On the other hand, the Fire Prevention and Extinction Rules 2014, according to Rule 22, require the owners of multi-storied or commercial buildings to apply for an occupancy certificate after construction. However, people’s lives are repeatedly endangered because fire prevention and extinguishing laws and regulations are not obeyed.

Tragic fire incidents frequently make headlines in the newspapers in Bangladesh. We are seeing an increase in such incidents in recent years. According to the Fire Service and Civil Defence, some 27,624 fire incidents occurred across the country in 2023. Not only in commercial establishments but also in residential buildings, lives are lost due to neglecting laws and safety measures. Many fire incidents occur not just accidentally, but due to a lack of preventive measures.

Due to unplanned urbanisation and poor infrastructure, thousands of buildings across the country, including Dhaka, face serious fire risks. This situation not only threatens businesses but also damages the local economy. According to FSCD statistics, there are 22,300 calls for fire incidents yearly, which will increase to 28,703 in 2023.

The fire incidents would have reduced considerably in multi-storied or commercial buildings only if they were equipped with enough fire extinguishers. After some fire incidents and explosions in the capital, RAJUK and the City Corporation authorities formed a probe committee and announced a list of illegal buildings. However, their actions must be visible. In developed countries, residential and commercial buildings are constructed with maximum measures to extinguish fire.

So, our government should also adopt a proactive approach to protect its citizens, prioritising public safety through solid law enforcement and public awareness initiatives. As a result, commercial buildings will have sufficient fire prevention equipment according to rules and regulations.

Besides being equipped with enough fire extinguishers, multi-storied or commercial buildings must have multiple stairways for quick exits in case of fire, so that occupants can quickly be taken to a safe place. And there should also be adequate fire detection and alarm systems in the buildings. Also, they should arrange seminars for fire prevention with building owners and residents. To prevent fire, all concerned must work together. Only the fire service cannot do it alone.

If the building owners are forced to come within the rules, then it is possible to reduce the fire. Considering the current situation, it can be said that life assurance depends on the quality of the building. Every building must be constructed with fire-resistant materials to prevent the spread of fire. The government must implement rigorous monitoring and supervision of buildings to prevent further loss of lives and property due to fires.