Given the sharp increase in minor fires reported in the city and suburbs, Telangana State Disaster Response and Fire Services Department personnel are working overtime to battle the summer blazes. Summer is a difficult season for the fire department because its personnel are usually called to multiple fires throughout the city on any given day.
Every day, approximately 12-15 distress calls are received by fire personnel, who, depending on the severity of the fire, direct their men and machinery to the scene to control it. “Inter-departmental coordination meetings were held as part of the summer preparedness. The officials of GHMC, Fire department, power and HMWS&SB agreed to coordinate during fire mishaps round-the clock,” said Regional Fire Officer, V Papaiah.
In the last few weeks, four to five minor fires have been reported daily. “Majority of the fires are occurring in the scrap godowns, furniture making units and small industries where combustible material is stored for manufacturing various products. We have identified accident prone establishments and creating awareness among the owners on fire safety aspects at the local fire stations,” he said.
Following several major fires in the city over the last year, the fire department conducted joint inspections of approximately 500 establishments and asked them to improve their fire safety mechanisms.
During the summer months, the focus of fire personnel will be on operations rather than enforcement. “Leaves of the fire personnel have been cancelled. Firefighting equipment has been thoroughly checked so that it does not breakdown during exigencies,” the official said.
Telangana State has 134 fire stations and 260 fire tenders with the department. The Telangana State Disaster Response and Fire Services department added bullet motorcycles equipped with water mist cylinders a few years ago to rush to fire mishap locations before the large fire tenders arrive.
An action plan to ensure preparedness of fire stations to face any type of fire related incidents was developed at a meeting held by Director General of Telangana State Disaster Response and Fire Services, Nagi Reddy.
The meeting was attended by Lakshmi Prasad, Director of Fire Services, G.V Narayana Rao, Additional Director of Fire Services, Regional Fire Officers and all the District Fire Officers.
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