Bangladesh saw 140 deaths in 26,659 fire incidents reported across the country in 2024, according to Fire Service and Civil Defence on Tuesday
Some 341 people were injured in fires caused by electric faults, burning cigarette butts, stove-related issues, and gas accidents, said FSCD Station Officer Talha bin Zasim on Tuesday.
Valuables worth Tk 446. 27 crore were also gutted, he said.
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However, the Fire Service managed to save property worth over Tk 1974 crore through their prompt response.
Besides, two fire service personnel died and 37 were injured while performing duties.
Furthermore, the unruly action of public led to the vandalism of 34 fire service vehicles and torching of eight others.
Of the total fire incidents, 33.98% caused by electrical faults, 15.52% caused by burning pieces of bidi or cigarettes, 11.46% from stoves, 2.95% from crowds, and 2.84% due to children playing with fire.
Other causes included gas leaks, cylinder explosions, and fireworks-related incidents.
Residential buildings were the hardest hit, accounting for 26.74% of the fires.
Other notable incidents occurred in haystacks (16.92%), kitchens (9.04%), and various industries, including garment factories and shopping malls.
A total of 268 fires occurred in vehicles, excluding buses, and there were also fire incidents on trains and launches.
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The highest number of fire incidents occurred in the months of February, March, April, and May, with an average of 102 fires reported daily during these months.
Beyond fire incidents, the Fire Service and Civil Defence conducted extensive rescue operations, saving 750 lives and rescuing 303 animals through diving operations.
In total, the Fire Service handled 9,128 accident rescues, including 6,408 road accidents.
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To curb future fire disasters, the Fire Service and Civil Defence launched 147 mobile courts in 2024, fining institutions a total of Tk 2.58 crore.
Besides, they carried out 18,983 fire safety drills and provided training to over 1.47 lakh people across the country.