PANAJI
From fighting massive blazes in March and April to handling over 100 emergency/meteorological calls a day this week, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services has been operating at full stretch as heavy rains continue to lash Goa.
The department responded to nearly 350 fire-related incidents in each of the two summer months, as the State reeled under heatwave-like conditions. Several operations extended for hours, including a chemical waste fire in a Sanvordem quarry and a string of recurring fires in the fields of Taleigao for nearly a week.
Among the more complex incidents was also a blaze at a sewage treatment plant in Mapusa and a fire on the third-floor terrace of a building in Miramar, which erupted during welding work near stored chemicals.
This week, the department’s control room has received nearly two calls per minute, clearly indicating the scale of the situation on the ground.
With the southwest monsoon expected to arrive earlier than usual, all staff leave has been suspended to ensure full operational readiness. Firefighters are deployed across the State, attending to incidents ranging from tree falls and rescues to minor landslides and structural damage.
“We are not allowing staff to take leave until the monsoon subsides unless it’s absolutely urgent. Our control room is on high alert, and calls are being responded to promptly. Where additional personnel are required, we are reallocating staff between stations,” Director of Fire and Emergency Services, Nitin Raiker, told 'The Goan'.
While the department has so far managed to stay responsive, a shortfall in manpower remains a concern given the volume and complexity of emergencies.
“We do have personnel, but with the rising number of fire and rescue operations, it helps to have more hands on deck. We recently inducted about 400 new recruits and a further recruitment process is planned in the near future,” Raiker added.
Despite the pressure, the department officials stated they remain well-equipped with all that’s required to deal with both monsoon-related emergencies and other unforeseen incidents.
