In a bid to make fire service more accessible to villagers and also to reduce the response time in case of any mishap, the State Government would set up 335 more fire stations across the State with an objective to open at least one fire station in each block.
“It has been decided to set up 335 fire stations across the State. This will be the highest amongst all States in the country. In addition to the existing 282 fire stations in the State, steps are being taken to make 53 more fire stations operational in a year’s time,” said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at a seminar on fire safety measures in high-rise buildings here.
As many as 1,042 fireman drivers have been recently recruited to meet the additional man power requirement, Patnaik said.
The State Government has also sanctioned three training institutes at Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Puri to facilitate training and professional responsiveness in fire prevention and extinguishing, rescue and rehabilitation and combating water related accidents, Patnaik added.
Maintaining that the number of high rise buildings, industrial premises and hazardous occupancies are on the rise in the State, Patnaik said Odisha Fire Service is adequately equipped to meet fire accidents and other emergencies in such premises.
“The Odisha Fire Service Act was enacted in the year 1993 and was notified in 1997. Modified rules would soon be framed for adequate precautionary measures required by owners and occupiers of buildings to prevent fire accidents,” Patnaik added.
Tourism and Culture Minister Ashok Panda, Bhubaneswar MP Prasanna Patsani. MlAs Priyadarshi Mishra and Bijay Mohanty, Development Commissioner UN Behera and Fire Services DG Binay Behera attended the seminar.