Fire and Rescue Services all set to get a big push

The Kerala Fire and Rescue Services will procure modern equipment and vehicles, including an aerial platform ladder to fight blazes in high-rises, at a cost of Rs.26.48 crore.

The government has given its nod to train children above 12 years in swimming and the youth in basics in firefighting and water rescue under Mission 676. Each fire station will get Rs.80,000 for the training programme.

The equipment and vehicles are being purchased using the Rs.11.48-crore one-time Additional Central Assistance (ACS) and the remaining from the Annual Plan Fund for 2014-15, official sources told

The Hindu.

The force had commenced modernisation through e-tendering under Commandant General, Kerala Fire and Rescue Services, P. Chandrasekharan.

The force was sanctioned Rs.22.50 crore as one-time ACS in 2010, of which Rs.11.48 crore had remained unspent. Of this, Rs.8.5 crore would be spent on the aerial platform ladder. Its wide platforms, mounted on foldable and mechanised ladders, would enable its personnel to reach a height of 55 to 60 metres. “It will be able to go up to 20 floors. The city where the aerial platform ladder is to be positioned had not been finalised,” the sources said. The initial proposal was to procure one each for Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, and Kozhikode.

The force would purchase three emergency tenders, 90 aluminium gloves, 75 chain saws, eight leakage arrester kits, five multi-gas detectors, and 15 airlifting bags this year using the rest of the ACS funds.

The sources said the remaining equipment and vehicles were being purchased with the additional amount of Rs.15 crore from the Annual Plan Fund. The force had been asked to prepare an action plan to complete the task in a time frame following a transparent procedure.

Fabrication of eight water tenders, 20 ambulances, 60 jeeps, personal protective equipment, 15 hydraulic rescue tools, 10 scuba sets with spare cylinders, 10 high pressure portable pumps, 76 chain saws, five inflatable tents, eight high pressure kits, four jumping cushions, six portable air compressors, 750 cots and 500 racks figure on the approved list.

The sources said the government had also cleared a proposal to erect a memorial to the fire services personnel who lost their lives while on duty on the premises of the fire station at Chakka.

The PWD had been asked to prepare the memorial on the lines of the one at the Kerala Police headquarters.