Deaths of firefighters have seen an alarming rise in recent years, driven by a rapid increase in illegal chemical warehouses and property owners concealing crucial information during emergencies.
According to the fire service, of the 19 firefighters who died on duty in the last three years, 16 were killed in just two major chemical-related incidents -- the recent Tongi fire and the 2022 Sitakunda container depot explosion -- where owners allegedly withheld vital information.
"A total of 51 fire service personnel has died on duty since 1966. But we're seeing more deaths recently, with 19 in the last three years," said Talha Bin Zasim, an official at the fire service media cell.
Former fire service deputy director Debashish Barman links the trend to the presence of illegal chemical warehouses in densely populated areas and a lack of specialised training.
In many cases, firefighters are not given accurate information, as explosive chemicals are often stored illegally in densely populated areas. Such concealments occur because owners fear legal consequences and mislead firefighters during emergencies.
— Shajahan Sikder Deputy assistant director, fire service
"Authorities do not issue licences for stocking flammable chemicals in such areas. But in Tejgaon, Old Dhaka and Tongi, there are many illegal chemical warehouses. Since they lack licences to keep highly flammable chemicals, owners tend to conceal information and lie to firefighters when a fire breaks out," he told The Daily Star, stressing the need to relocate these warehouses.
The September 22 Tongi fire is the latest example. The blaze at a chemical warehouse claimed four lives, including three firefighters, allegedly because the owner concealed information.
Debashish said, "The firefighters knew there were chemicals, though they probably didn't know the specific type. But why didn't they wear protective gear for a chemical fire?"
He suspects the warehouse contained hydrogen peroxide, which exploded when firefighters used water. He also pointed out that the fire service lacks sufficient training and resources to tackle chemical fires.
"There are only a few firefighters trained for chemical-related fires. They need to be deployed at stations near chemical warehouses," he said.
Bangladesh has witnessed several high-casualty chemical fires in the past two decades. In 2010, 124 people died in Old Dhaka's Nimtali fire, which involved flammable chemicals. In 2022, at least 47 people, including 13 firefighters, were killed in Chattogram's Sitakunda, after a fire and subsequent explosions at a container depot.
Contacted, Shajahan Sikder, deputy assistant director (acting in-charge, media) of the fire service, acknowledged that concealment of information has contributed to a rise in firefighter fatalities.
He said in many cases, firefighters are not given accurate information, as explosive chemicals are often stored illegally in densely populated areas.
Such concealments occur because owners fear legal consequences and mislead firefighters during emergencies, he added.
"But it is the firefighters who bear the brunt of such concealment," Shajahan said.
He also noted that the number of firefighters trained to handle chemical-related fires is gradually increasing, with several personnel having received specialised training in Malaysia, Singapore and Japan, and now passing on that knowledge to colleagues at home.
Following the Tongi fire, a fire brigade official filed a case under the Explosives Act at Tongi East Police Station against warehouse owner Solaiman and 23 others, including 20 unnamed individuals.
Waheduzzaman, officer-in-charge of the police station, said, "We have started an investigation. It is being examined whether the warehouse had a licence or not."
He said all the accused are currently absconding.
