Bumthang, once infamously known for recurring and major fire disasters has enjoyed a few years of peace since the last major fire occurred in 2016. However, minor fires in the outskirts of Chamkhar town continue to occur, reminding people of a looming disaster. Today, the town is equipped with fire hydrants, and fire prevention programmes are conducted every year to avoid another mishap.
Memories from the last fire that razed 23 shops in Chamkhar town, five years ago are still fresh. Some still continue to pay for the lost properties and belongings.
“During the 2016 fire, though the fire didn’t catch my shop, we had to evacuate to stop the fire from spreading further. All my goods got damaged when people moved them out of the shop. The damage comes to around Nu 1.5 M. For instance, I lost around 115 cartoons of honey. I didn’t even get insurance for the damaged goods as insurance companies approve insurance only if the structure gets burnt,” said Kumar Pradhan, a shopkeeper in Chamkhar town.
To the relief of the residents, the town now has 15 fire hydrants. These would have saved lives and properties in the past if authorities installed them soon enough. Today, the Dzongkhag Disaster Management office and police conduct fire prevention and awareness demonstrations annually to remind people of the unforeseeable risks. This year’s programme ended recently. It was conducted for five days across Bumthang town and in Lhakhangs and Jakar Dzong.
“As Bumthang has a history of fire accidents, we can never predict when another fire will strike us. We were taught about different causes of fire and how to contain them. I got new knowledge from the demonstration programme and it was also an opportunity to refresh my skills,” said Sonam P Ongchu, a Desuup who participated in the fire prevention and awareness training.
Participants were given hands-on experience of using fire hydrants and extinguishers. They were also taught about the safe usage of LPG cylinders and the suppression of flames caused by leaky cylinders.
For now, people are trained and the fire safety system is slowly being put together. It is now the responsibility of individuals to observe fire safety measures to protect themselves and the community.
Kipchu, Bumthang
