Fire Prevention, Preparedness and Public Responsibility: The Need of the Hour

A.K. Srivastava

In recent times, fire accidents have become a common and serious concern. Whether in coaching centres, cinema halls, multi-storey buildings, government warehouses, government offices, or industrial establishments, incidents of fire are increasingly becoming regular headlines in newspapers. In many cases, people simply inform the nearest fire station and request that a fire brigade be dispatched. However, relying solely on external assistance is not sufficient. Society must also be educated, trained, and prepared for fire prevention and initial firefighting measures.

Around 70–80 years ago, village conditions were quite different. Most houses were single-storey, with adequate distance between neighbouring homes. Wells were commonly available within villages, and if a small fire broke out, villagers would immediately unite and extinguish it using buckets of water. In many places, sand was also kept readily available to control small fires.

However, in economically weaker settlements consisting of thatched huts, especially during the summer season, fires could spread rapidly and destroy entire clusters of houses. During those times, communities would collectively help affected families rebuild their homes. The government also provided relief assistance or Takabi loans, which in many cases did not require repayment.

In the modern era, rapid urbanisation has led to the growth of multi-storey buildings and industrial establishments. During the approval of building plans, various fire safety regulations and standards are prescribed by the authorities, and compliance with these requirements is mandatory. While large industries generally follow these regulations, regular maintenance, inspection, and periodic assessment of fire safety systems remain equally important. In technical terms, this process is known as a “Fire Audit”. It ensures that installed equipment is fully functional, properly maintained, and that employees and security personnel receive adequate training.

Keeping these concerns in view, and after consultations with experts, surveys conducted in Jamshedpur and nearby areas, and discussions with concerned technical authorities, it has been decided to organise a State-Level Fire Safety Seminar in Jamshedpur during the last week of July. The seminar will bring together experts from the National Fire Service College, Nagpur, retired specialists from IIT Kharagpur, experienced fire officers, representatives of government departments, representatives from large and medium-scale industries, and nationally recognised fire safety consultants. Several experts have already conveyed their consent to participate.

Apart from the Jamshedpur Citizens Forum, several other organisations have agreed to sponsor this important seminar. A detailed programme is expected to be finalised within the next three weeks. The seminar will also include practical mock drills and demonstrations.

Based on the recommendations of the seminar, regular awareness campaigns, rallies, and short-term training programmes are proposed for security personnel of multi-storey buildings, employees of industrial establishments, and the general public. Our objective is not merely to extinguish fires after they occur but to develop a culture of prevention, preparedness, and prompt response so that fire incidents can be minimised and effectively managed.

Fire safety is not solely the responsibility of government agencies; it is a collective responsibility of society, industries, institutions, and every citizen. Awareness, proper training, and continuous preparedness are the most effective ways to prevent major fire disasters.

(Author is President of Jamshedpur Citizen Forum. The views expressed are personal.)