Karimnagar: Less number of Fire Stations, outdated fire engines, lack of sufficient staff and emergency firefighting equipment has made the Fire Service Department personnel in the integrated district anxious with reports of more number of fire mishaps during this season.
The government’s decision to establish fire stations in every constituency has not been implemented in the erstwhile Karimnagar district. There are only 10 fire stations in 12 constituencies at Karimnagar, Sircilla, Vemulwada, Huzurabad, Manthini, Choppadandi, Metpalli, Godavarikhani and in Jammikunta. But in Manakondur and in the historical place, Dharmapuri, which is also a tourist hub, there are no fire stations.
Apart from that, new and modern fire engines were sanctioned to only some Fire stations in Karimnagar, Vemulwada and Godavarikhani. But the firemen are facing problems frequently with the outdated vehicles which are still in use in Metpalli, Sircilla, Huzurabad and Manthini fire stations.
Apart from that, while 16 fire personnel should be posted in every fire station, many just have six. Out of 12 Fire Officer posts, only seven have been posted across the district in various fire stations. Half of the Driver posts out of 36 are lying vacant along with more than 60 firemen posts and two leading firemen posts.
Moreover, the equipment the firemen use in several fire stations are old ones. New and emergency fire-fighting equipment which are multifunctional such as skylift which is a basic necessity during fire outbreaks and a vehicle equipped with high-beam lights, hydraulic cables and modern cutters are needed for effective management which are lacking in many fire stations. There is a demand to fill all these lacunae in terms of equipment and personnel.
The District Fire Service Department is celebrating the National Fire Service Week from April 14 to 20 and has announced several programmes to create awareness among the people about fire accidents and how to prevent them and will be conducting mock drills at several important locations including in schools and colleges.
