The number of fire emergency calls during the Deepavali festival has come down over the years, but the TS Disaster Response and Fire Services Department will nevertheless be on alert on the festival day on Wednesday round the clock with the entire force on the standby to tackle any fire-related incidents, said Director General M. Gopi Krishna on Monday.
“Last year, there were a dozen fire-related complaints in the capital and in 2016, it was 27. So, we need not be alarmed, but at the same time we need to remain vigilant. We see a downward trend because of greater awareness and also due to decreasing demand for firecrackers,” Mr. Gopi Krishna pointed out at a press conference.
Shop licence
The department had issued 4,258 licences for various wholesale, retail and godowns for storing and selling firecrackers throughout the State, including 946 in Hyderabad and 1,436 in Ranga Reddy district alone.
Instructions were issued to the district fire officers to ensure preventive measures like gap between shops, placing of fire extinguishers, water drums, etc., are taken up without fail.
“We have power to seize any shop which resorts to selling crackers without taking any license or not maintaining the fire prevention protocol. Citizens can call up the fire service toll free number at 101 or 99499-91101 for any complaints or in case of a fire,” said the DG.
Fire engines on standby
Mr. Gopi Krishna said all fire engines will be on standby and placed at strategic places like open grounds where the cracker sales are taking place while the ‘mist’ loaded bullets will also be ready to reach any place of fire quickly before the fire engine can wind its way in.
The Supreme Court-mandated firecracker permission time of 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. will be maintained in coordination with police and GHMC.
There are 52 such bullets for the capital region and 136 in rest of the State, and more than 60 fire engines will be kept ready. Regional Fire Officer, Central Region, V. Papaiah urged citizens to purchase firecrackers from licensed shops only.
Additional Director C. Lakshmi Prasad was also present at the media conference.
