Traders, residents, and business owners in Ramanattukara have renewed their long-standing demand for a dedicated mini fire station in the town, citing repeated delays in emergency response in the rapidly expanding commercial hub, which has witnessed a worrying rise in fire accidents in recent years. A recent fire outbreak at a painting shop, which caused a loss of ₹1.5 crore to the owner, has once again brought the demand to the forefront.

Representatives of various merchants’ forums alleged that the absence of an easily accessible fire station has repeatedly delayed emergency response in the region, resulting in heavy financial losses. Ramanattukara, located at the gateway to Kozhikode city on the border of Kozhikode and Malappuram districts, now has nearly 900 commercial establishments, including wholesale and retail shops, supermarkets, auditoriums, and high-rise buildings used for commercial and residential purposes, they pointed out.

“We have submitted memorandums multiple times to the municipal authorities and people’s representatives seeking action. Timely arrival of firefighters continues to be the main issue,” said P. Rasheed, a member of the Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samiti. He said rescue personnel could respond effectively if stationed within an accessible distance.

At present, emergency situations in the area are mostly handled by fire service units from the distantly located Meenchanda and Vellimadukunnu stations. Traders alleged that severe traffic congestion, compounded by the ongoing National Highway development works, delays the movement of fire tenders to Ramanattukara and nearby areas.

Owners of small- and large-scale industrial units said the recent rise in the number of high-rise buildings and the concentration of auditoriums in the region warrant immediate strengthening of firefighting infrastructure. They also questioned the alleged apathy of local administrators in identifying suitable land for the project.

Functionaries of various citizens’ forums and voluntary organisations pointed out that a portion of the 88 acres of land under the possession of the Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation could be made available for the project. However, there has been no proper intervention from the authorities concerned to expedite the process, they alleged.

Sources in the Fire and Rescue Services department said that they had approached the municipal authorities at least three times, requesting speedy allotment of suitable land for the mini fire station. According to them, a mini fire station is a basic fire safety requirement within an eight-kilometre radius for fast-growing towns such as Ramanattukara.

Meanwhile, municipal authorities said efforts were continuing to resolve the technical issues related to identifying and handing over the required land for the project. They added that several suggestions regarding suitable properties were under consideration and that a final decision would be taken soon, taking public sentiment into account.