Why Fire Accidents Are Rising—and Why Prevention Is Our Only Real Cure… Dr. Fiaz Maqbool Fazili
Dr. Fiaz Maqbool Fazili
Fire accidents, in any shape or from any cause, are tragic. More importantly, they are largely preventable. Yet, over the last few weeks, we have witnessed a disturbing flurry of fire incidents tearing through residential colonies, commercial spaces, and densely populated neighbourhoods. Each incident leaves behind not just charred structures and financial loss, but shattered families, lost livelihoods, and a lingering question we refuse to ask honestly enough: Why does this keep happening?
For years, winter fires in Kashmir and similar regions were conveniently attributed to the “kangri”—the traditional fire pot that once warmed generations. While kangri-related accidents were real and required regulation and caution, the narrative has now shifted. Today, even as modern heating alternatives replace traditional methods, fires continue to erupt with alarming frequency. Conversations with fire service personnel reveal a sobering truth: most recent fire accidents are not acts of fate or harsh weather, but the result of sheer negligence, poor planning, substandard materials, and a dangerous absence of public awareness.
At the heart of this crisis lies our casual relationship with electricity and heat. Low-quality electric blankets flood the markets every winter, often uncertified, cheaply wired, and designed without basic safety standards. People use them overnight, sometimes folded or covered, creating heat traps that lead to short circuits and ignition. Heating gadgets are left switched on for hours, sometimes days, forgotten in the comfort of routine or the rush of daily life. Extension cords snake across rooms, overloaded beyond their capacity, supplying power to multiple appliances simultaneously. Old electrical wiring, installed decades ago when household power demands were minimal, is now forced to carry the load of modern living. The result is predictable: sparks, overheating, and fires waiting to happen.
But the problem does not end inside our homes. Step outside, and the picture becomes even more alarming. Modern colonies, ironically built in the name of development and urban expansion, are often designed with narrow lanes and congested layouts. Fire tenders, the very lifelines during emergencies, struggle to enter these areas. Precious minutes are lost as firefighters attempt to navigate tight corners, low-hanging cables, and illegally constructed extensions. In fire emergencies, time is not just money—it is life. Delays of even a few minutes can mean the difference between a controllable blaze and total devastation.
Equally troubling is the complete lack of knowledge about basic firefighting infrastructure. Ask residents where the nearest water point or fire hydrant is, and most will look at you blankly. In many colonies, water points either do not exist, are non-functional, or are blocked by encroachments. Cars are parked haphazardly in lanes meant for emergency access, turning residential streets into dead ends for rescue vehicles. In moments of crisis, instead of swift coordination, chaos reigns—crowds gather, access routes are blocked further, and rescue operations are hampered by well-meaning but uninformed bystanders.
These are not isolated oversights; they reflect a systemic failure of civic education and urban governance. Fire safety is treated as an afterthought, something to be discussed only after tragedy strikes. Building permissions rarely enforce strict fire safety norms, and even when regulations exist on paper, enforcement is weak. Periodic safety audits of residential and commercial buildings are either absent or reduced to formalities. The result is a false sense of security that collapses the moment flames appear.
The human cost of this neglect is immense. For families who lose their homes, a fire is not just a physical loss—it is the erasure of memories, documents, savings, and a sense of safety. For small shopkeepers and traders, it can mean the end of a lifetime’s work overnight. For vulnerable populations—the elderly, children, and the disabled—fires pose an even greater threat, as evacuation becomes difficult and escape routes are often inadequate.
What makes these tragedies particularly painful is the knowledge that most of them could have been avoided. Fire accidents are not earthquakes or sudden floods; they rarely come without warning signs. Flickering switches, overheating plugs, burning smells, tripping circuits—these are signals we ignore until it is too late. Prevention, in this context, is not a slogan but a responsibility shared by individuals, communities, and authorities alike.
Public awareness must become the cornerstone of fire prevention. People need to be educated, repeatedly and relentlessly, about safe use of heating devices, the dangers of overloading electrical circuits, and the importance of switching off appliances when not in use. Awareness campaigns should not be limited to pamphlets or occasional announcements; they must be woven into school curricula, community meetings, mosque announcements, and local media. Fire safety drills, demonstrations by fire services, and community-based training can transform passive residents into informed first responders.
At the same time, urban planning must be revisited with urgency. Colonies must ensure clear access routes for emergency vehicles, designated no-parking zones, and functional water points. Retrofitting older neighbourhoods may be challenging, but it is far less costly than rebuilding after disasters. Authorities must enforce building codes strictly, penalise illegal constructions, and ensure that new developments prioritise safety over short-term profits.
Equally important is personal accountability. Fire safety begins at home. Investing in certified electrical appliances, upgrading old wiring, avoiding makeshift power arrangements, and maintaining basic firefighting tools like extinguishers can save lives. Communities can play a vital role by forming local safety committees, mapping access points, and coordinating with fire services before—not after—disaster strikes.
The fury of fire is unforgiving, but it is not inevitable. Every tragic headline is a reminder of choices made and warnings ignored. We owe it to ourselves, and to future generations, to break this cycle of negligence and mourning. Prevention is not merely better than cure—it is the only humane option when the cure comes too late.
If we continue to normalise fire accidents as seasonal misfortunes or acts of destiny, we will remain trapped in a loop of loss and regret. But if we choose awareness over apathy, planning over chaos, and responsibility over convenience, we can reclaim our homes and neighbourhoods from this silent, recurring threat. Fire may be fierce, but informed societies are stronger.
The Author besides being a Medical doctor , very active in positive perception management of various moral, social and religious issues can be reached at drfiazfazili@gmail.com & twitter @drfiazfazili
