However, firefighters in the district have never been provided with protective equipment and clothing to ward off these hazards. Firefighters are required to wear safety gear while carrying out fire-fighting and rescue operations. [break]
Gopilal Gupta, a firefighter, said they risk their lives in fire-fighting missions as they have not been provided with protective clothing and safety kits. There are seven fire-fighters in the station.
While the fire engines do not function properly, we have to risk our lives in firefighting missions, said Ranjit Bahadur Shrestha, station in-charge.
“We might not need safety gear to deal with minor fire incidents, but we need them to deal with massive fires,” said Shrestha.
“We try our best to rescue people trapped in the fire. But, lack of safety gear makes it impossible for us to work under extremely hazardous conditions,” said Gupta.
Obiraj Acharya, information officer at Nepalgunj municipality, said that the firefighters have not been provided with safety gear as “massive fires hardly occur in our country”.
“Massive fires causing huge loss of lives and property are uncommon in our country. It is useless for us to spend so much money on expensive protective equipment and clothing for firefighters.”
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