Delhi Fire Service ready for Diwali emergency

New Delhi: The Delhi Fire Service (DFS) has cancelled Diwali leave of all its employees and is ready with 1,500 fire fighters across the city to handle any emergency on Sunday.

"We will deploy our maximum fire vehicles and full staff to respond any fire call promptly," Chief Fire Officer GC Mishra told IANS. 

"Diwali leave of all our employees have been cancelled as extra manpower is needed to ensure a fast response and minimum damage to life and property," he added. 

The officer said that the 1,500 fire fighters along with the back-up teams in control room, workshops and other departments would be on duty to tackle emergency situations. 

"A total of 59 fire stations exist and we have established 22 additional centres considering last year's experience," Mishra said. 

A total of 290 fire incidents were reported during Diwali last year.

Fire engines would be stationed at 22 sensitive areas across the city like Azadpur Mandi, Bara Tooti Chowk in Sadar Bazar, Ghitorni, Tilak Nagar, Lajpat Nagar and Gandhi Nagar as a precaution as the maximum number of fire calls are received from these areas, Mishra said. 

The additional emergency teams would be stationed at designated areas from 5 p.m. on Sunday till midnight. 

For quick response, 10 motorcycles and 11 quick reaction teams too have been readied.

Some fire engines have been deputed at some police stations near congested areas so that the response time can be shortened, Mishra said.