Delhi Fire Services ‘fully prepared’ for Diwali

New Delhi: As the city gears up to celebrate Diwali, the Delhi Fire Services is putting in place elaborate plans to ensure a trouble-free “festival of lights”.

From cancelling leaves of staff to deploying fire-fighting equipment at 30 spots across the city, the fire department on Friday said it was “fully prepared” to tackle any fire-related emergencies.

Despite a complete ban on crackers, the department had received over 152 fire-related calls on Diwali in 2021. The number was, however, 25 per cent lower from 2020 and the lowest in 15 years, fire officials said.

This year, around 2,900 fire-fighters will be on duty to tackle emergencies.
As per the arrangements, the fire department will deploy a water tender each at 22 busy locations from 5 pm to midnight on October 23 and 24. These spots have been selected based on an analysis of yearly fire-related calls during Diwali so that a water tender can quickly reach any location in case of a fire and check its spread, a senior fire official said.

Besides water tenders, motorcycles fitted with fire-fighting equipment will be deployed at five other locations with narrow and congested lanes. The department will deploy other vehicles fitted with firefighting equipment at spots such as Connaught Circus, Geeta Colony and J Road. (PTI)