Firefighters battle flames and hurdles in Kiphire

P Achumse Yingbithongru
Kiphire | April 19

With the ever increasing occurrence of forest and house fires been reported from across the State, there is one group of people can be relied on without question, day-in and day-out. These are the fire fighters.

Fire fighters are among the most vital public servants in any society and yet, their importance is often recognised only when disaster strike.

Speaking to The Morung Express, on the occasion of National Fire Service Week, observed every year from April 14 to 20, Tsarose S Sangtam, Officer in-Charge, Fire Station Kiphire, said “National Fire Service Week is commemorated to celebrate the brave fire fighters who lost their lives in the line of duty, particularly during the devastating dock explosion in Mumbai on April 14, 1944 and to promote fire safety awareness.”

Sangtam said, “as such, fire service Kiphire is also observing a weeklong Fire Service week with a theme ‘Unite to Ignite- A fire Safe India.”  Various awareness and campaigns marked the observance, including carrying out cleanliness drive at main town under fit India movement, promotion of games and sports among fire-fighters at station level under Khelo India, fire mock and evacuation drill at Zisaji Presidency College, Kiphire, and lecture and live demonstration at public places promoting awareness on fire safety’ he added.

Challenges and difficulties 
Pointing out some of the major hurdles fire-fighters has to endure while attending fire calls in Kiphire and Nagaland in general, he said, “narrow roads and passage, along with traffic congestion and non-approachable roads significantly impede the timely response to the scene, potentially leading to increase damage of property.”

“Further, building constructed without any safety measures for fixed fire fighting especially in commercial building and public places, lack of maintaining water storage for fire emergency, and lack of awareness about the importance for fire safety and prevention often worsen the situation,” he remarked. 

He stated that addressing these challenges with management strategies can help enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of fire fighting operation in our region and state.

Equipments and devices
On the availability of equipments and devices at Fire Station Kiphire, Sangtam said that the current basic facilities is sufficient to tackle fire emergency as most of the existing risk under Kiphire is classified in Class A Fire Category. 

However, he added, as technology advance and with the ever growing construction of high rise building, fire hazard may become more dangerous due to increase demand and complexity. “Thus, upgrading fire equipment’s will be necessary to effectively address potential challenges in coming days,” he observed”

Public response
Commending public support and the role citizens play at the time of crisis he said, “Our Naga society is primarily base on community contribution. However, sometimes it can inadvertently interrupt fire fighting ability of fire fighting when individuals/community use unsafe improvised method in containing fire which can go out of control and pose danger to oneselves. 

“Therefore, it is crucial to call emergency services promptly rather than trying to control fire independently,” he asserted.

He pointed out with public support and proactive involvement of citizens, Fire and Emergency department, Kiphire has contained eight major forest fires from January-April 2025. 

At present he said, fire station Kiphire has a total of 27 fire personnel with three fire tenders.

Buildings lack safety
Briefly highlighting the Nagaland Fire and Emergency Services Act-2021, the Officer said the Act was approved by the Cabinet in 2023. The Act provides a legal requirement for mandatory clearance from fire service department for buildings or occupancies that are consider prone to fire risk. Under this Act, all the buildings which are above 15 meters will have to have fire safety measures for fire prevention. 

He informed that in 2022 throughout Nagaland in all district HQs, department carried out preliminary inspection of buildings, especially offices, Banks, Hospitals, Churches, Schools and Institutions, and both commercial and private, where maximum numbers of buildings were found to be lacking fire safety measures.