Eight dead, 55 injured in fire incidents in a month

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Dec. 13: Eight people died and 55 others sustained injuries in fire incidents across the country in a month from November 11 to December 11, said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) in a statement on Friday.

The NDRRMA expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased. It also wished a speedy recovery for the injured.

An analysis of recent cases shows that most of the fires were triggered by electrical short-circuits and leaking cooking gas cylinders. Other causes included flammable items kept too close to the cooking area, thatched roofs catching fire, and flames spreading from kitchen stoves, said the statement.

Incidents were also reported when children played with matches and lighters, or when clothes caught fire while people were sleeping near open flames. Similarly, fires broke out when agricultural residue such as straw and hay was burned, either accidentally or deliberately.

According to the NDRRMA, human negligence, carelessness and lack of awareness lead to the rise in fire-related incidents. It has been creating awareness videos in multiple languages and disseminating them through newspapers, radio, television, online media and social media to support fire risk reduction and disaster management.

Disaster risk reduction and management require multi-sector cooperation, coordination and participation. It is equally important to ensure that the awareness materials produced by the Authority reach the intended groups, areas and communities to help prevent and reduce fire hazards, read the statement.

The Authority has urged all concerned -- federal, provincial and local bodies, UN agencies, non-governmental organisations, development partners, the private sector, civil society and the media -- to take necessary initiatives and extend support in preparedness, response and recovery activities to prevent fire-related disasters. 

Meanwhile, our Manang correspondent Yadu Prasad Bhatta reported that with the onset of winter in the high Himalayan region, the risk of wildfires has been rising. 

In response, a series of one-day community-level awareness workshops on forest fire prevention have been conducted in different settlements of Manang. The sessions, held recently in Naso and Chame rural municipalities, provided local residents with detailed information on the causes, types, potential risks and control measures related to wildfires.

A total of 28 residents took part in the workshop held in Dharapani Bazaar of Naso Rural Municipality-3. The participants discussed in detail how forest fires start, the role of human activities, the impact of dry weather and the extent of possible damage. 

According to Dhak Bahadur Bhujel, Chief of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) unit office in Manang, Naso is considered the most fire-prone among the four local levels of the district. The training was organised to equip communities with practical and technical skills to deal with fire risks.

Similarly, the workshop held in Timang under Chame Rural Municipality-1 saw the participation of 39 residents. Timang has, in recent years, been facing challenges posed by dry winds and the sustainable management of forests. Participants practised community-based fire control measures such as forming monitoring groups, maintaining collective vigilance, setting up household-level alert systems and moving to safe locations during emergencies.

Earlier, a similar workshop was organised in Nachai village of Naso Rural Municipality-2 with 33 participants. Trainers guided residents on identifying early signs of wildfire, safety measures to follow when using fire near high-risk areas and managing bushes near grazing lands and settlements.

Another awareness session was conducted in the Tal village of Naso Rural Municipality-1 with the participation of 38 locals. Since Tal witnessed high tourist movement, participants were informed that even minor negligence could trigger a major fire incident.