Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services launched its week-long National Fire Safety celebrations on Saturday by recalling the services of firemen who lost their lives while on duty.
Senior officials from the Fire Services Department, senior officials representing the defence services in the State and other fire service personnel participated in the commemoration parade held in the morning.
April 14 is observed as Fire Safety Day, following the fire on SS Port Stikins, a ship berthed in the Mumbai harbour in 1944. All 66 firemen involved in putting out that fire were killed. Every year, the nation marks the day in memory of those fire service personnel. The theme for awareness this year is ‘Smoke Management Saves Lives'.
On Saturday, senior firemen and officers laid wreaths in memory of the 27 firemen who have died in the State since 1955. Director of Fire Services, Bhola Nath, recalled the services of K. Anbazhagan, leading fireman who died while putting out the fire at Kalas Mahal, Triplicane.
Mr. Nath said the campaign will involve competitions for children and distributing fire safety awareness pamphlets to schoolchildren. Later, addressing presspersons, he said the best way to fight fire is to install fire safety equipment inside the buildings. The department has procured new equipment that can be mounted on a motorcycle and used to contain fire until a fire tender arrives on the spot.
