LAHORE - International Fire fighters’ Day is the day when the world’s community especially the Emergency, Fire and Rescue Services can recognise and honour the sacrifices rendered by fire fighters ensuring safety of their communities and environment as maximum as possible.
The International Fire Fighters’ Day is marked each year on May 4 to pay tribute to the fire fighters, who rendered their lives serving their communities.
This is the time when the people sitting in the power corridors; citizenry and emergency services nationally and internationally show their complete support and appreciation to the fire fighters worldwide who protect us by risking their own lives.
On December 2, 1998, a tragic fire incident shook the populated area of Victory’s Linton Community, Australia, where some brave fire fighters were fighting a large wild fire and gave a humanitarian call for assistance to the world community. Subsequently, the Geelong West Fire Brigade moved to the scene, without knowing their upcoming fate. Garry Vredeveldt, Chris Evans, Stuart Davidson, Jason Thomas and Matthew Armstrong all of them after loading into the company’s truck moved to the scene aiming to extinguish the blaze. As they headed into the hot zone of fire, the wind suddenly switched direction, engulfing their truck in flames and killing all the five fire fighters on the spot.
This unfortunate incident inspired JJ Edmondson to work for the goal, which led to International Holiday, commonly attributed now as International Fire Fighters’ Day in order to support the lives lost and dedicated fire fighters who risk their lives every day to save the life and property of their countrymen. Also, JJ Edmonson symbolised this International Fire Fighters’ Day with wearing Red and Blue Ribbon, because the red stood for the element of fire whereas the blue would represent the element of water.
According to the statistical data, in the US, some 90 lines of duty deaths were recorded amongst fire fighters in 2009, 36 being careers, and 7 being a part of a wild land agency. However, not only fire-fighters die because of fires. The statistics show that in 2009, a total of 3,010 citizens died in different fire-related incidents. Also, 1.3 million fires occurred in 2009 resulted to the loss of $12.5 billion in direct property loss. In the same year, there were a total of 78,792 wildfires which burnt down an estimate of 5,921,786 acres (23,964.62 km2).
Although, the International Fire Fighters’ Day is marked globally to remember the sacrifices of the brave fire fighters, but with the passage of time, the experts of fire fighting profession introduced several innovative lifesaving ideas including Fire Prevention and Community Training.
Consequently, the Rescue and Fire Services started stressing upon the rulers and the community to adopt preventive measures to ensure safety of their own lives and properties. In Pakistan, the Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122) marks this day each year on May 4 with the objectives and goals to protect the lives of the citizens. The visionary mind of Dr. Rizwan Naseer, Director General, Punjab Emergency Services (Rescue 1122) and Emergency Services Academy, Pakistan, always put his efforts in summarising the needs of the fire fighters and encourage the youth to adopt this profession with passion to serve humanity.
In this noble cause, the remarkable services of a former Governor Punjab Ch. Mohammad Sarwar and Member Scottish Parliament Belly Hazala Malik cannot be ignored, who always stood side-by-side with DG Rescue Punjab Dr. Rizwan Naseer in time of need, whether it was the topic of training of fire fighters from abroad or the issue of welfare of the fire fighters. Both, Ch. Sarwar and Hanzala Malik are the time-tested friends of Rescue 1122.
Also, Mr. Malik is true “Heavy Weight” Rescuer of Pakistan, who stood in front of the Scottish Parliamentary Committee head by saying, “First twinning of Glasgow-Lahore would be made afterwards other twinning of other cities would be possible”. He did this by twinning Children Hospital Lahore with York-hill Hospital for Sick Children, of Scotland.
Rescue 1122 in collaboration with National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is marking this International Fire Fighters’ Day.
NDMA chairman Major General Asghar is doing his best job in ensuring life safety of his countrymen in case of disaster including floods, earthquakes and other emergencies. Charity begins at home. Unfortunately in Pakistan, fire-fighting and fire safety has long been neglected’ putting the lives and properties of the citizens at risk leading to unfortunate incidents including fire in Shaheed-e-Millat Secretariat, National Assembly, the PACE Lahore, Gakkhar Plaza, LDA Building, PNS Karachi etc.
As far as fire fighting is concerned, Rescue 1122 has established a Modern Fire Service that has responded to over 64,000 fire incidents since its inception in 2007, saving losses worth over Rs180 billion in Lahore. The basis for fire safety starts from the establishment of the National Fire & Life Safety Codes as they already exist in India, UAE and other countries, but we lack these codes so far.
An effort in this regard was also started and a meeting was held in the office of National Disaster Management Authority, Islamabad, in which Pakistan Engineering Council was committed to develop the Fire & Life Safety Codes. However, no significant effort has been made so far. Therefore, it is need of the hour to expedite development of Fire Safety Codes, notify and ensure implementation of Fire & Life Safety Codes. These codes may be considered the minimum standards to minimise the occurrences of such unfortunate incidents in future.
We should also make a commitment of developing our own Fire & Life Safety Codes as earliest as possible.