When we speak of ‘Fire Service’ the one thing that comes to mind is that of the fire personnel fighting to douse a fire. These firemen are at the site in quick time to save people trapped in the building, saving goods, and then putting off the fire with water pumps and foam pumps. In all these activities the fire personnel are at risk of getting hurt as they have to climb great heights and could even suffer burn injuries despite wearing protective gear. However it must be said that the fire personnel carry out multi-tasking activity as well. Besides attending to fire calls they also attend to emergency calls. These firemen were frontline workers when Covid-19 hit. They were there to lend a helping hand during cyclonic storm Tauktae which made landfall in the Arabian Sea in May 2021 when they were reportedly kept on their toes attending to emergency calls pertaining to uprooting of trees, electric poles, etc. They even provided necessary help for citizens who were stranded due to the storm. Firemen not only answer major emergency calls but also help in minor incidents like saving a stray animal fallen in an open well, etc. A salute to these bravehearts who many-a-times are taken for granted. They carry out almost the same task that army personnel do during peace times.
ADELMO FERNANDES, Vasco
