A 70-year-old volunteer firefighter has called for an upgrade to fire safety measures in Yangon’s older buildings after he tackled a massive blaze that tore through Yangon’s Than Zay market on Thursday.
“Old buildings are the biggest problem in this day and age because it will take a lot of effort to renovate them to fit the fire safety guidelines. Some don't even have emergency fire exits and smoke detectors, so it isn't ideal to be living or working in them," Win Kyi told Myanmar Mix.
When asked about his role in rescuing Yangonites, he said, "Preventing loss of life is the best thing any person can do."
At least 84 people were rescued from the 12-storey building in Lanmadaw township, according to Myanmar Fire Services Department. Local media reported 16 people were injured and nobody was killed in the fire.
Win Kyi, who is also known as Mossi, put on his firefighter gear in his home in Kyeemindaing township and took a boat down Yangon River when he got a call about the blaze in the early morning.
“I went up to the fire engine and started helping them, filling up the water tanks and attaching the nozzle,” said the grandfather, who began volunteering to battle Yangon fires in the 1970s.
A photograph taken by news outlet The Irrawaddy’s Htet Wai of Win Kyi standing in front of black plumes of smoke spiralling from the building went viral in Myanmar, with social media users hailing him a hero.
“It doesn't really instil a sense of accomplishment in me,” he said, brushing off the praise. “I have a job to do and it’s my duty to help out all these people.”
When he is not putting out fires, Win Kyi helps his wife to sell vegetables; a job he used to do more often at a night market in Ahlone township.
He has five children and one grandchild, and though many friends have urged him to retire, he is determined to continue firefighting.
“Being a volunteer fireman means there are no such thing as wages and retirement plans,” he said, adding that he pays his own way to get a boat to the fires.
“My hours are not very predictable, we get calls as soon as there is a fire nearby or if there's a huge fire explosion.
“What can I say? I'm still very passionate about firefighting."
One of the worst blazes he has fought came from a 2011 blast at a state-owned medical warehouse in the eastern Yangon township of Mingalar Taung Nyunt that killed 17 people, including three firefighters.
Another devastating fire was at Mingalar market in 2016, which took much time and effort to extinguish, he recalled.
“My job involves taking care of the people who were rescued from the fire, rescuing people who were trapped inside the building, and ultimately trying to extinguish the fire, but this is all a group effort,” he said.
“Another thing is the reaction time and the time that the authorities are alerted. People should take action as soon as they see the fire.”
