Fire in built environment

A fire broke out in the Urology Ward of Khalifa Gul Nawaz Hospital in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's (K-P's) Bannu on Monday, but patients were safely evacuated and the blaze was brought under control within minutes, Rescue 1122 said.
Rescue 1122 Bannu said its fire rescue team reached the hospital about five minutes after receiving an emergency call and immediately began firefighting and rescue operations. The blaze was brought under control within about 10 minutes using modern firefighting techniques, the rescue service said.
“All patients present in the ward were safely evacuated to a secure location,” Rescue 1122 said, adding that no loss of life was reported.
According to Medical Teaching Institute (MTI) Bannu spokesperson Mohammad Noman, the fire was initially caused by an electrical spark. The spokesperson added that hospital staff and rescue teams immediately evacuated patients and began efforts to extinguish the fire, while Rescue 1122 was informed without delay.
“The timely and effective response of the hospital staff prevented the fire from spreading further and helped bring the situation under control,” Noman said.
He also noted that MTI Bannu staff had recently received special training in firefighting, handling fire emergencies and responding quickly to such incidents following the fire at Islamabad's Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). “The training was put into practical use during today’s incident,” Noman said.
He added that the staff’s training, rapid response and coordination with rescue teams had played a key role in preventing what could have been a major accident.
On August 26, 14 newborns were killed after a fire broke out on the third floor of the Mother and Child Hospital at PIMS, triggering widespread outrage and demands from people and political parties for action against those responsible.
The fire at PIMS prompted authorities across Pakistan to review fire-safety arrangements at healthcare facilities and other public buildings.
The tragedy also led to increased inspections and enforcement in Islamabad. The CDA sealed three buildings over fire-safety violations and later conducted a fire drill at Parliament House, while the Islamabad High Court sought a government report on fire-safety audits and mandatory NOCs for buildings in the capital.
In Sindh, a fire-safety assessment of 22 government hospitals found widespread shortcomings, including a lack of fire alarms, sprinklers and adequate firefighting equipment. The provincial chief secretary subsequently gave departments 15 days to certify that public buildings under their control complied with fire-safety regulations.
Punjab also ordered fresh safety checks following the fire at PIMS. The provincial health regulator directed public and private hospitals to strengthen emergency preparedness, conduct fire-safety audits and hold regular drills, while Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz ordered reviews of firefighting equipment, emergency exits, hydrants and electrical systems at public health facilities.