Safety is prevention

Recent events in which deadly fires have burned down many homes in Dimapur, only serve to show how important it is to take a wide range of fire safety measures. Fires need to be put out quickly before they become huge, but no matter how brave the firefighters are, their efforts become futile if there aren’t enough of them. One of the most potent challenges faced by fire tenders from reaching the spot is encroachments that have made roads in different colonies in Dimapur very narrow. The authorities have to strictly implement the rules governing the width of the road and reservation area so that vehicles can pass and also enable fire tenders to reach the spots at the earliest. As a safety measure in case of fires, the rule has to be enforced by the government. There are also times when fire trucks can only get water from one source, and this is something that needs to be taken very seriously. A great deal of consideration needs to be given for having water storage facilities for refilling fire tenders during crisis. The government is also responsible for fire safety, and the danger will stay unless the right steps are taken. One of the problems faced by fire personnel and fire tenders is on reaching the spot within the shortest possible time on receipt of information. When buildings are being built in some states, fire safety rules must be followed, and after the buildings are finished, the owners must get fire safety certificates. In Dimapur, the existence of many temporary sheds made of flammable bamboo structure and walls are fire hazards. Dwellers draw electrical lines that are at most times, of inferior quality or drawn after many joints. These later potentially cause sparks and subsequently lead to flames that spread and turn into infernos. Also, the other factor is that as the number of shops and businesses in and around Dimapur city grows, the government needs to strictly enforce rules that prohibit storage of chemicals and things that can catch fire in store rooms. The government also has to check the stoves of hotels, restaurants, and bakeries that use either LPG or coal to make sure they are safe from fire. Even garages for cars that are in places with lots of people need to be moved because the oil and lubricant waste, as well as the fuel stored in the cars’ tanks, can be dangerous. When a fire starts, the flammable oil wastes make things very difficult because water can’t put out such a fire. This also serves as a warning of how important it is to have some fire trucks filled with chemical foam. It is assumed that the department in charge of fighting fires will have dedicated and well-trained officers. This means that those in charge should make sure that the hiring and training process works as efficiently as possible. The personnel should also be given the right clothes, safety gear (like face masks), and other needed accessories. When there is a fire, noxious fumes are emitted from burning plastics, paints, or other chemicals. Unprotected firefighters are exposed to the risks that could lead to major lung problems later on. These are some of the issues that need to be addressed in order to prevent catastrophic fires.