The government is going to procure a new device, "LUF 60", to douse fires in densely-populated areas like old Dhaka and industrial areas. The Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence (BFSCD) has opened letter of credit (LoC) to procure six "LUF 60s", a wireless remote- controlled mobile firefighting supporting machine, from  Austria, sources in the BFSCD said. The Ministry of Home Affairs decided to procure the fire-fighting device last year, but it was not purchased due to non-availability of funds, the sources added.

The director general (DG) of the BFSCD, Brig. Gen. Ali Ahmed Khan, told The Independent that the country would get the device within three months. “We will be able to use the LUF 60 to clear the path for advancement up to a distance of 300 metres by incorporating a high-capacity positive pressure ventilator and a 'water beam' fog. When firefighters will be unable to go near the fire, the device will be used to shoot water beams at high pressure and clear the smoke, heat, toxic gases and reduce the intensity of the fire. This would allow firefighters to conduct safety operations,” he said.

The DG also said the device is flexible and easy to handle to douse fires. It can be remotely controlled from a distance, not putting the life of firefighters at risk, and its tank wheels help it to move in difficult terrain easily. It is capable of climbing stairways as steep as 30 degrees and can move a normal car out of the way.

“It can reach the fire source (if necessary by remote control) in road or tunnels, basements or other enclosed building compartments, using the high volume water fog to reduce the high ambient temperature and the fire intensity to allow firefighters and rescue teams to approach safely,” Ali explained.

He further said fire incidents were increasing in the urban and metropolitan city areas as the use of chemicals, gas cylinders and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has been increasing rapidly.

And that’s why, the authorities should set up "satellite fire stations" like police posts to help douse the fire quickly, Ali opined.

He said they are building awareness among people about what is to be done during fire.

Most of the residential and non-residential buildings in old Dhaka are vulnerable to fire, and are at high risk of repeated fire-tragedy due to the failure to enforce the building code and shift warehouses from the areas.

Not only old Dhaka, at least 98 per cent of the buildings in the capital, especially hospitals and highrises, are at high risk of fire.

The BFSCD sources said most of the buildings in old Dhaka are like "explosives", and fires like the one at Churihatta and earlier at Nimtoli may occur anytime.

A huge quantity of chemicals has been stored in the buildings of the old city, and the owners never follow the building code. Moreover, the streets are narrow. The Nimtoli fire claimed 124 lives, and the one at Churihatta in Chawkbazar 69.

According to a report titled “State of Cities 2017: Housing in Dhaka” by the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development, around 95 per cent of the buildings in Dhaka do not have any fire exit.

The report said that in addition to this lack of preparedness, fire hazards become more extreme in residential areas of the capital due to the high density of buildings, narrow roads, flammable building materials, old water and electrical supply systems, and the prevalence of chemical factories.

The number of serious fires in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country as a whole continues to grow, with 20-40 reported countrywide every day.