Fire accidents: vulnerable pockets identified

The Fire and Rescue Services Department has identified vulnerable pockets in the cities in Western Tamil Nadu and have stationed fire engines with its teams of fire fighters to quickly attend to fire accidents as a result of bursting firecrackers during Deepavali.

Joint Director of the department’s Western Region M. Shahul Hameed told The Hindu that these pockets were identified based on past experiences. Eight of these vulnerable pockets were located in the city. Fire engines were stationed at four places in the city - Ukkadam, Gandhipuram, Singanallur and Flower Market - from Tuesday.

“These vehicles with more than 12 fire fighters in each vehicle will be stationed till Thursday morning. If needed, their presence will be extended till Thursday evening. Six such vulnerable pockets have been identified in Salem and Erode at three each in the two cities,” he said.

No vulnerable pockets were identified in Tirupur city and on its outskirts, The Nilgiris, Namakkal, Dindigul, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri as the existing fire stations could reach the areas under their jurisdiction at ease even at times of emergency. “All the 1,200 fire and rescue services personnel in the 66 stations in the region have been instructed to be on high alert,” he added.

The Joint Director said that about 118 fire accidents as a result of bursting firecrackers were reported in this region in 2012.

“Only 46 such incidents were reported in the nine districts in 2013 as there was a heavy downpour during the festival. Most fire accidents were a result of careless firing of rockets and other aerial displays,” he said.

Mr. Shahul Hameed said that the department organised many awareness programmes at education institutions on celebrating an injury-free Deepavali in the last six weeks and had instructed persons running the cracker outlets to carry out precautionary arrangements to avert fire accidents.