
By - Imkong Walling
Come winter, and the accompanying dryness in the air, there is a marked occurrence of housefires, especially in Dimapur. Call it human nature or manifestation of a pervasive public distrust on services or things related to the government, the Fire and Emergency Services (F&ES), come under fire, both in the literal and figurative sense.
Slow reaction time or tardy response is the habitual allegation hurled against the fire brigade, as it has traditionally come to be known.
While the flaws in the F&ES Department as a whole are evident, the focus of this piece is on the practical challenges firefighters in Nagaland face in the line of duty, challenges that deserve public attention.
One of the biggest obstacles that have to be accounted for is the notorious traffic congestion in Dimapur, a woe further compounded by the narrow thoroughfares. Fire trucks slowed down, or worse, getting held up in traffic, is not a scene that one would see in the movies, but it actually happens in this part of the world.
Intense focus on the fire incident has public attention away from the traffic woes the firefighters have to navigate through. During one of the recent fires in the city, fire trucks were held up for several minutes in a traffic jam on the Nyamo Lotha Road. In addition to clogged main roads, even narrower by-lanes eat away on the response time.
Fire incidents becoming a public spectacle, and haphazardly parked onlookers’ vehicles, are the other major impediments that come in the way of unobstructed access for fire trucks.
Fires get noticed when there is smoke. By the time the emergency number gets dialed, and information gets relayed, the flames spread.
Contrary to the allegation of tardiness, firefighters maintain that they respond immediately on receipt of a distress call. As opposed to wearing special fire resistant clothing, boots, gloves and breathing apparatus, firefighters here have to make do with a set of cotton khaki clothes and combat boots.
For all the flaws and lacks Nagaland’s F&ES Department have, its unsung field personnel, who actually face fire up close, deserve being given some slack.
A job in the security forces is regarded as among the most dangerous. It demands the sacrifice of life itself and thus, highly venerated. In the fire brigade and other less venerated non-combat professions, the odds of a fatal injury are just as obvious.
Now, that was about some of the visible challenges. The other things to consider are the population density of Dimapur and the haphazard way in which the urban agglomeration has grown, failing all construction and safety norms.
Cause is often attributed to electrical faults but it all goes back to construction safety. Was electrical safety norms followed, or in other words, implemented during construction? Suspicions remain suspicion with no inquiry undertaken to ascertain the actual source, and following up with corrective measures.
The writer is a Principal Correspondent at The Morung Express. Comments can be sent to imkongwalls@gmail.com