Rawalpindi: Fire department criticised for lacking equipment

[Naveed Yaseen]

by Malik Ayub Sumbal
The trader community and civil society lambasted Fire Brigade Department for lacking modern technology and proper training to extinguish fire of Gakhar Plaza.

Talking to ‘The News’ a number of people were of the view that fire brigade lacked proper equipment and training as many fire break out incidents have taken place in the recent past, but none of the buildings could be saved from the ill fate.

According to the information collected from the concerned officials of fire fighting department seven fire engines of city district government, 10 of rescue 1122, three of Civil Aviation Authority, five of Bharia Town, two of Cantonment Board, two of Air Force and two from Wah took part in this rescue operation that began at around 3:10 a.m. Saturday.

Nasir Mehmood, a citizen said, “The fire brigade department should be modernised. These fire engines came in time but they lacked proper system to enter the plaza premises to extinguish the fire.” District Officer Fire-Fighting Department Chaudhry Aziz said, “I reached Gakhar Plaza within ten minutes after the fire broke out. Why don’t the people appreciate the services of fire fighting department.

Responding to a query, he said as far as matter of modernisation of fire fighting department is concerned it is responsibility of government and not ours.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=152994