Capital’s fire service ready for Diwali: Fire chief

NEW DELHI - Delhi Fire Service is on guard and prepared to tackle any emergency during Diwali, its chief said Thursday.

“Manpower, both firefighters as well as the control room staff, has been increased so that there is less delay in receiving calls and dispatching fire engines,” chief fire officer A.K.Sharma told IANS.

According to the fire chief, 53 fire stations are operational and five extra fire engines have been placed in crowded areas.

“Azadpur, Bara Tooti Chowk, Tilak Nagar and Lajpat Nagar have extra fire engines as a precautionary measure. These fire engines will be stationed from 5 p.m. to 12 midnight. On Diwali, we will increase the number of extra fire engines to 21, stationing them in fire-prone areas,” said Sharma.

For quick response, 10 motorcycles too have been readied.

“Places which are cramped and crowded, where it is very difficult to take the fire engine, motorcycle units carrying backpack-sized equipments with water-mist technology have been made functional,” he added.

Over 2,200 firefighters in the city will be on their toes.

“We have cancelled leaves of most of our firemen. The extra manpower is to ensure a fast response and minimum damage to life and property,” said R.C. Sharma, director of Delhi Fire Service.

The manpower in the control room, which received over 200 calls on Diwali last year, has also been increased.

Additionally, two fire stations in Mayur Vihar and Shahdara areas of the city, constructed earlier this year, are functional now, an official of the fire department said.