the goan I network
VASCO
Are fire stations in Mormugao taluka equipped to handle an inferno like the fire mishap in Surat which claimed several lives?
Firefighters may be expected to save lives and property, but they could be risking their own lives given the lack of basic amenities and equipment at their fire stations in Mormugao.
According to sources, fire stations in Mormugao taluka lack necessary equipment like emergency evacuation breathing devices, fire suits, fire masks, canister masks, fire hooks, safety nets or hydraulic platform fire tenders which may be needed at times of a huge fire.
“Several firefighters are left to save lives with bare minimum equipments available to them,” said a source.
“While some firefighters may enter the premises on fire without masks, some use sticks in the absence of fire hooks to pull out objects on fire, while some firefighters scale heights on ladders without platform.
“But definitely, fire stations in Mormugao taluka do not have safety nets in case of an option where some person trapped in a fire could jump to safety in a bid to save his life.”
Sources from a fire station informed The Goan that several demands to the fire services department had fallen on deaf ears.
“The fire stations in Mormugao taluka are devoid of basic canister fire masks, which are mandatory to be made available at the fire stations.”
Sources said the only fire brigade with a hydraulic platform to douse and control fire at a high-rise building is available only in Panaji.
“It could be a big disaster by the time this fire brigade with a hydraulic platform travels all the way to Mormugao taluka. Besides, the fire stations in Mormugao taluka also don’t have Alumni Zed Fire Suits,” the source said.
“We have demanded various items like masks and fire hooks, but we are yet to receive them. At least in the wake of fire incident at Surat, the government must wake up and ensure that all fire stations have at least bare minimum emergency equipments to handle emergencies.”
“There must be a check to see if all fire stations have the necessary equipments so that tragedies like that in Surat don’t happen in Goa,” the source added.
When contacted, Director of Goa Fire and Emergency Services Ashok Menon said he could not comment on the issue and lack of necessary equipments at fire stations in Mormugao taluka.
When asked if the fire department was prepared to handle a fire incident like the one in Surat, Menon said the details could be sought from the website where emergency and disaster management plans were uploaded.
However the website www.goadfes.gov.in displayed error and did not open to reveal plans displayed on the site.
It many be recalled that around 20 people were killed in a massive fire which broke out at a four-storey building, housing a coaching centre, in Surat on Friday.
