As part of Fire Prevention Week and Fire Service Day, the Fire Station Dimapur conducted public awareness programmes at various strategic points here Tuesday.
National Fire Service Day is observed on April 14 to pay homage to fire personnel who sacrificed their lives during the course of duty. Fire Prevention Week is observed from April 14-20 to raise the public fire safety awareness.
On the occasion, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dimapur, Kesonyü Yhome, who held a short discussion with the fire personnel near his official residence, expressed that in times of emergencies citizens should also engage in proactive precautionary measures and not simply wait for the fire department.
With mercury rising and short circuit one of the main causes of fire accidents, DC stressed on the importance of proper wirings and electric connections.
He said “Citizens should check, renew electrical wirings and in case of any difficulty, they should inform the electrical department”.
Altogether 15 fire personnel in two fire engines made stoppages at major junctions including Clock Tower, Notun Bosti, D.C Court, PWD, MP Road and Super Market, where public were made aware of fire safety measures, how to avoid fire accidents and dos and don’ts during fire incidents.
According to OC Fire station, A Wati Jamir, in 2014 the station had received 92 fire emergency calls out of which 62 were major fire incidents.
Jamir said in 2015 till April 14, the station received 24 calls out of which two were major incidents, one at Netaji colony and another at Hospital colony. He informed that 17 personnel were on duty 24 hours and roll calls were conducted at 8 a.m., 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. every day. Stating that firemen were in place and fully geared to serve the citizens at any time, Jamir, however, lamented “unwarranted harassments” meted out to them in times of emergencies by certain public.
Besides, traffic congestion, main hindrance during fire emergencies, OC fire station said careless parking on road sides and narrow roads in many colonies also created huge difficulties for fire engines to manoeuvre through to reach incident sites.
OC urged the citizens not to interfere with fire personnel in the line of duty as they were suitably trained to handle the fire tending equipments and point of executions.
The fire station, which is under Deputy Inspector General Headquarters Kohima, has a total strength of 52 personnel including two sweepers and six fire engines, which responds to emergency calls from Diphupar police station in the East and as far as Peren district in the West.
Leave a Reply