Srinagar: Fire and Emergency Services, Jammu and Kashmir, on the eve of start of ‘Fire Service Week’, paid rich floral tributes to the colleagues fallen in the line of duty, here on Sunday.
“Fire Service Week is observed throughout the country every year from 14th April to 20th April in order to make public aware regarding the fire prevention and precautionary measures. The Fire & Emergency Services, J&K is also observing Fire Service Week in a befitting manner and a number of programmes are being launched throughout the week for mass public awareness. The 14th April was observed today in the UT of J&K to commemorate those gallant Firemen who laid their lives while safe guarding life and property of masses during rescue and fire-fighting operations,” reads a statement.
“The main commemoration parade was held at Fire & Emergency Services Headquarters Gandhi Nagar Jammu, besides at Provincial & District levels. During the function Alok Kumar –IPS (Addl. DGP), Director, Fire & Emergency Services J&K was the Chief Guest. After the commemoration parade two minutes of silence was observed in memory of Martyrs and also Wreaths were laid on the Martyrs memorial by Sh. Alok Kumar IPS, (Addl. DGP), Director, Fire & Emergency Services J&K; R. K. Raina, Deputy Director, Fire & Emergency Services, Command Jammu; Dr. Manju, Medical Officer Jammu and other senior officers and Jawans of the department,” reads the statement.
“Flowers were sprayed from a height of 42 metres by the Aerial Ladder Hydraulic platform at the martyrs memorial.”
While speaking on the occasion the chief guest, Alok Kumar IPS, Director, Fire & Emergency Services J&K, paid homage to brave firemen who laid down their lives for the noble cause “We Serve to Save” and highlighted the ethos of 14th April.
Kumar while emphasizing the role of Fire & Emergency Services discussed the devastation caused due to fires and natural calamities. He emphasized upon the departmental officers to constitute special teams for giving demonstrations during the week regarding fire safety measures at District level in Industrial establishments, educational institutes, Hospitals and other institutions besides conducting essay competitions of students and debates on this year’s slogan, “ENSURE FIRE SAFETY,CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS NATION BUILDING” at Range/ District Headquarters.
He also applauded the role of Firemen who did a commendable job during recent fire fighting and rescue operations in J&K.
While appreciating the role of the department since August, 2022 with regard to conduct of mass awareness programmes in educational, Health and other institutions, the Director informed that Fire & Emergency Services Jammu and Kashmir has taken initiatives at a large scale by way of conducting mass public awareness programmes in various types of occupancies Educational institutions and Hospitals throughout the UT by way of demonstrations and imparting first aid fire fighting training to meet any exigency, with the main aim to prepare first responders and to have “Har Ghar Fire Fighter” as back up fire fighters in every household of UT of J&K.
Since last half and one year upto ending March, 2024, the department has been able to conduct awareness 4430 programmes covering equal number of different institutions and establishments like Schools, colleges, Hospitals, Army and security force establishments, in which 559993 persons were imparted first aid fire fighting training. The said programme was so successful and fruitful that the number of fire calls was reduced to 4451 during the year 2023 as against 5833 in the preceding year of 2022.
As a part of the mass public awareness programme, the Director released a specially prepared handbill/ pamphlet containing do’s and don’ts for the information of general public to ensure fire safety and contribute towards nation building.
Initially Alok Kumar IPS, Director, Fire & Emergency Services J&K declared the Fire Service Week open which is being observed from 14th to 20th April-2024. He also issued instructions for organizing, evacuations drills, essay competitions, fire audits so that the losses due to fire disasters are minimized, besides sports events, free medical check-up camps for jawans.
The Director also informed that a special initiative has been taken by the department to acquaint the Fire Service Personnel with the first aid techniques of handling injured persons during rescue operations.
Similar functions were held at Fire & Emergency Services Range Hqrs. Batamaloo Srinagar and other district headquarters. (GNS)
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