Assessment of vulnerability to fire hazards and formulating community-level fire adaptation approaches: A case study in Seroil Colony, Rajshahi

Fire hazards have become a common occurrence in the densely populated urban areas of Bangladesh due to haphazard urban planning, high building density, and unplanned expansion of cities. Rajshahi City is one of the oldest municipalities in Bangladesh. The population density of Rajshahi City is not very high, but frequent fires in congested areas like Seroil colony are a cause of great concern. So, the study aims at identifying the factors of vulnerability to fire as well as formulating risk reduction strategies through the involvement of local people in that area. Different tools of Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) have been used to identify the reasons, consequences, and the community's capacity to manage fire hazards. The research reveals that a majority of fire accidents result from electrical short circuits. Simultaneously, the susceptibility of the area is increased by narrow roads and the use of combustible construction materials. Besides, vulnerability mapping of the study area is represented by using ArcGIS. Ultimately, the research came up with a set of risk mitigation strategies designed to enhance the resilience of the community. The study offers policy and recommendations for the implementation process. Hopefully, this study will provide valuable insights for policymakers and relevant authorities to enhance the city's resilience in future.