Bardiya district has only three fire engines to cater to all eight local levels at times of fire emergency.
The incidents of fire have increased with the summer heat in the district but the district has only three fire trucks.
However, the elected people's representatives in the local level have given more priority to buying vehicles for their use rather than for purchasing fire engines.
The Bansgadhi, Thakurbaba, Barbardiya, Badhaiyatal and Geruwa local levels where there are more incidents of fire are without fire trucks. Bansgadhi municipality is planning to buy a fire engine in collaboration with Badhaiyatal rural municipality.
The local levels call the police for help whenever fire incidents occur in their localities.
Thakurbaba municipality has purchased two cars but it has no plans to buy the desperately needed fire truck for the municipality. The people are helpless whenever there is big fire in their settlement as the help from police and the few fire engines that are in the district often comes very late.
