The fire station in Gudalur, where more than 20 fire-fighters are stationed and are called up to attend to emergencies in Gudalur, Pandalur and even Masinagudi, is in a state of extreme dilapidation and is at risk of collapse, putting the health and safety of the firemen at risk.
The firemen, who attend to fire calls, tree falls and other emergencies, even helping the Forest Department put out forest fires, said that the situation becomes extremely difficult for them during the rains, when water begins leaking into the station while rats, snakes, scorpions and insects also have free access into the place where the firemen wait while on duty.
Due to the station not having any protection from mosquitoes, there is also a fear among the firemen that they could get stricken with illness. The roof of the fire station, which is made of sheet metal, has begun rusting and a portion is also caving in, locals said, leading to fears that the structure is at risk of collapse.
Such has been the concern shown by local residents to the plight of the firemen that a few businessmen running shops near the fire station helped raise funds to repair and renovate a small room behind the main edifice of the station, so that the men could sleep in peace during seasons of heavy wind and rainfall.
The room has a couple of benches and some spaces where they can sleep, but it is too small to house more than five people at a time, the personnel said.
One of the businessmen who helped to pay for the shelter, Mohammed Faisal, said that the men did not even have a proper toilet on the premises and that the fire station has not been repaired or renovated for over a decade. “There are three fire vehicles here, which could become damaged if the structure gets damaged or collapses, while the firemen themselves have no sense of security,” he said.
