Author: Ina Allkanjari
Just think about the 24 hours between February 10 and 11. Fire in Memaliaj. Fire in Fier. Fire in Vlora. Fire in Orikum. Fire in the hospital emergency service in Tirana.
Fires in the middle of winter that are reportedly caused by people themselves.
Faced with flames and unexpected emergencies, there are firefighters. Often found in challenging and dangerous situations. The low number of effectives, lack of spaces for training, lack of necessary equipment, as well as narrow roads, are some of the challenges that accompany firefighters in their daily work.
Firefighters' concerns are not about luxury demands. They are basic requirements to better respond to fire and the next emergency.
A proof of this sad reality is the story of Shkëlqim Kllogjeri, commander of the fire service in Lushnja with 27 years of work experience. He tells Sinjalizo that the lack of suitable tools and conditions are the main obstacle in their work.
"Our lives are mainly at risk because we are dealing with interventions in difficult and large natural phenomena. We have some shortages in terms of oxygen devices that we use at the scene when the premises are closed and the possibility of entering without tools is impossible. We lack an auto-escalator, and other tools that seem simpler, but that perform their role at the scene", says Kllogjeri.
The lack of appropriate and necessary tools is often the cause of tragic events, or failure to provide timely help. Firefighter Kllogjeri also dwells on road accidents and the importance of vehicles in such emergencies.
"In road accidents it is a great difficulty because people get trapped inside the vehicles. In order to make it possible to extract them, there must be efficient tools that cut the vehicles", says the firefighter from Lushnja.
The work of firefighters requires special preparation and their preparation depends a lot on training. However, in many fire stations in Albania, there is a lack of suitable spaces for training, turning into a major obstacle.
Shkëlqim Kllogjeri firefighter from Lushnja emphasizes the importance of training and proper training in their daily work.
"Training and education are the basic element for a firefighter, because the more he knows the methods of intervention, the more skilled he becomes and the more courageous he becomes to perform and handle all elements of the scene.", He says.
However, at the Lushnjë fire station, the premises are in deplorable conditions. Firefighters have a hard time getting the right training.
"We have made requests from time to time and we have agreed that within the first 6 months of this year, the living conditions of the effective will be adjusted. If we were in a place where we could have more suitable facilities, even a mini gym, it would be good. We have one there, but it is not very suitable, we made it ourselves on the first floor, one of the rooms", says the head of the Lushnje fire department, Xezmi Metushi.
The location of the Lushje fire station is another concern raised by the head of the fire department, who emphasizes that the location is also the cause of delays in emergency cases.
"We wanted to move the facility as a destination, because if you look at it from our position, this place does not serve the firefighters. It takes us a long time to get the fire engine from here to the main road. It would be better if the fire service, this department, was on the main road", says Metushi.
Infrastructure and traffic as an obstacle for firefighters
Narrow streets and limited access to emergency locations make the firefighter's work difficult. The Director of the Tirana Fire Department Shkëlqim Goxhaj talks about the most difficult schedules to operate due to the heavy traffic in the capital.
"We definitely encounter difficulties especially during traffic hours (07:30-09:00 and 16:00-18:00). In the territory of the Municipality of Tirana, we have 7 fire service stations and we have them spread over the entire territory of the municipality. This extension helps us to reach the fires quickly, even when the event is at peak traffic times", says Goxhaj..
Meanwhile, for the head of the Lushnje fire department, narrow streets and car parking in inappropriate spaces are one of the main problems.
"They penalize too much, this was shown by the recent fire in the Metropol shopping center, because when we went there were many cars parked around the building. We waited until the cars left, then we entered. We have identified a few spots that we know, but there are also neighborhoods that are narrow streets and the fire department can barely get in... or not at all", says Metushi.
A little fire extinguisher
Another worrying problem is the low number of firefighters in the whole country. The Ministry of Interior on its official website writes that the fire service has improved, stressing that throughout this decade the number of officers has increased.
"In the 61 municipalities in the country, 70 fire stations have been installed, from 38 that were in 2014, with 1,315 employees. This number increased during the decentralization period. In 2014, this number was 749 employees", writes the Ministry of the Interior.
But the figures presented are far from the standards provided for in law no. 152 of 2015 which states that "For the fire protection and rescue service", the ratio should be 1 firefighter for 1.500-2.000 inhabitants. This situation increases the pressure on firefighters, leaving them to face challenges with a limited number of effectives.
The director of the Tirana fire department, Shkëlqim Goxhaj, tells Sinjalizo that the Municipality of Tirana has taken the form of a European metropolis and the service provided by firefighters in this city should be at the level of a European city. He shows the increase in the number of firefighters in the capital during the last decade, stressing that this increase has not been accompanied by the same rate in other municipalities.
"10 years ago, when we started this service, we had about 90 fire service forces, while now we have 166. So it means that 76 more forces have been added. The fire service of Tirana, unlike many other Services in the territory of the Republic of Albania, where the number of employees has remained unchanged, has a very young age. I said they have remained unchanged because many municipalities have not added as many effectives as Tirana has added", says Goxhaj.
Comparing the number of officers who operate in the capital with the number of registered population in Tirana Municipality, it is clearly seen that this municipality operates with 50% of the necessary capacity. In a population of about 680 inhabitants, the number of firefighters should be at least 340.
Based on Law 152 of 2015, this figure is even lower in Lushnje, where only 12 officers currently operate, which makes it difficult for them to respond efficiently to civil emergencies.
The need for an immediate improvement of the working conditions and equipment of firefighters is essential to guarantee the safety and protection of citizens in emergency situations.
Firefighters are on the front lines, braving natural and man-made disasters. It is the duty of local authorities and communities not only to recognize the problems but also to offer solutions, especially for urgent issues. Fire cannot be extinguished either with water or courage. Modern tools, conditions and equipment are required. Considering what it saves, no investment in firefighters is too much.
This article was created based on input provided by individuals who have chosen to speak up. Share your story, empower others and be an agent for change. Visit the website: www.acqj.al/sinjalizo-dhe-ti/
