DUSHANBE, July 30, 2009, Asia-Plus — The Main Firefighting Directorate within the Ministry of Tajikistan has marked its 81st anniversary today.
Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, the first deputy chief of the firefighting service, Colonel Qutbiddin Salohiddinov said that due to intensification of the fire-preventive work the number of fires has significantly decreased in the country. “518 fires have been reported in the country since the beginning of this year, which is 89 cases fewer than in the same period of last year,” Salohiddinov said.
According to him, the main causes of fire in the country are incorrect installation of electric wiring and improper handling of electrical devices. “Besides, some 29 percent of fires are caused by careless operation of gas equipment and 19.5 percent of fires are caused by careless handling of fire,” said the firefighting official, “Over the first six months of this year alone, 51 fires have been caused by children playing with fire-ignition sources.”
The first Tajik voluntary firefighting team was set up in Khujand in 1924. The second voluntary firefighting team was established in Dushanbe on July 5, 1928. On July 30, 1928, Tajik government adopted the Resolution “On the State Fire Supervision,” and July 30 is now marked as the day of the establishment of Tajik firefighting service.
