By Hasan Hadi
Dehradun, 8 Apr: As summer approaches, the number of fire incidents in Dehradun is rising. On average, 5 to 7 cases of fire are being reported daily in the city. To deal with this serious issue, the fire department has started taking necessary steps.
Chief Fire Officer V. B Yadav said today that the department is fully prepared to handle fire emergencies. All fire equipment has been checked, and coordination has been done with the Jal Sansthan for regular water supply. At present, the department has five big fire tanks and one small tank. These tanks can carry between 3,000 to 7,000 litres of water.
He stressed the importance of public awareness. “Everyone should have basic knowledge about fire safety and should know how to use a fire extinguisher. If people are aware, many lives can be saved,” he said. In the last three days, several fire incidents have been reported. On Sunday, a fire broke out near Maggie Point on the Dehradun-Mussoorie Road. A major fire was reported at a chemical factory in Haridwar, where two people lost his life after being caught in the flames.
However, traffic congestion in Dehradun is making it difficult for fire trucks to reach the incident spots quickly. This delay can lead to more damage. To improve response time, the department has been instructed to act quickly after receiving any complaint. Awareness programmes and mock drills are also being organised in schools to teach students about fire safety. The officer said that, in places like malls, schools, and large buildings, people must know how to use fire safety tools. Fire safety is not just the job of the fire department — it’s everyone’s responsibility. With awareness and training, many lives and properties can be saved.
