Manpower crunch affects fire fighting operations: Fire brigade chiefs

Manpower crunch affects fire fighting operations: Fire brigade chiefs

Pune: The chiefs of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) fire brigades have said that the challenges of rapid urbanisation and lack of effective planning due to inadequate manpower is making it difficult for them to carry out fire safety operations during critical times. 

On the occasion of the National Fire Service Week 2018, both the fire brigades collaborated with the Safe Kids Foundation, a non-profit organisation, for a city-wide fire safety awareness drive. Fire safety procedures prepared by Honeywell-sponsored Safe Kids at Home curriculum will be used during the week. 

The awareness drive has been planned as a part of the Fire Service Week from April 14 to 20 that will feature interactive activities such as rallies, street plays, exhibitions, workshops on fire safety, carnival for kids, mall events, and model and poster making competitions. Moreover, the foundation and the fire departments will induct 150 Agni Suraksha Mitras, who will assist the fire departments during fire emergencies in the city.

Addressing the press conference, Prashant Ranpise, Chief Fire Officer of the PMC fire department, said, “All private and public schools have been made fire safe. Also, any new structure, which is proposed to come up, is not given building permission till the fire department gives its clearance certificate. We feel that there should be chapters in school curriculum. along with training or demo given to students and parents on fire safety.”

Kiran Gawade, Chief Fire Officer of the PCMC, said, “Along with children, youths should also be educated about fire hazards, as there have been many cases recently where wayward youths set cars on fire.”

Gawade added, “In the current situation, due to manpower shortage, officers are forced to conduct volunteering sessions for citizens. Hence, it becomes difficult for us to manage serious fire incidents.”  

National fire service week
Fire audit of prominent buildings almost complete 
Ranpise and Gawade said almost 80 per cent of the fire audit for prominent buildings has been completed. “We are following the procedure gradually due to manpower crunch but we will complete the audit before the deadline,’’ they said.
 

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