Fire department sounded ‘red alert’

“We are on toes for last over two weeks as crop and forest fire have been reported from many areas,however due to timely action by the departments,we have been able to control them”,said R.S Sodhi,Director Fire Services Department.

“Entire work force have been asked to report to duty and most of the equipments have been pressed into service to deal with any emergency”,said Sodhi.

It is pertinent to mention here that for the population of 52 lakh people who inhabit the ten districts of Jammu region there are only 64 tenders and 35 fire stations to deal with any major eventuality in the region.

Official data says that Jammu district has 10 fire stations,with 25 fire tenders which cover the city of 12 lakh population. While Samba has 2 fire stations and 4 fire tenders,Kathua has 2 stations and 3 tenders,Udhampur has 3 fire stations and 5 tenders,Reasi has 2 fire stations and 3 fire tenders.

Similarly Ramban has 4 fire stations and 5 tenders,Doda has 4 stations and 6 fire tenders. While Kishtwar has 1 fire station and 2 tenders,while border district of Rajouri has 3 stations and 5 tenders and Poonch has 4 stations and 6 tenders.

“There is shortage of equipment and vehicles but there is a plan to increase the number of fire station according to the population ratio”,said Sodhi.

Director said that they are making maximum use of the available resources to deal with any eventuality. “At present we can deal with any major incident and steps are being taken to meet the requirements of the personnel”,Sodhi said.

However an official source said that the department is still lacking even the basic equipments and the field personnel does not have fire resistant suits,masks or potable oxygen cylinders to deal with any man made or natural calamity.

It is pertinent to mention here that keeping in view the needs of the rapidly expending population in the state the previous government in 2005 had made a detailed plan to build new fire station across the state keeping in view the population ratio of the respective districts.

Sources said that the main reason why the proposal did not materlise was the cost involved which was beyond the capacity of the government. Each new fire station involves expenditure of Rs 1.3 crore and an additional staff of 26 personnel at each station,which is quite out of budget for the funds allocated to the department.