In its bid to reduce the response time, the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) is going to install Global Positioning System (GPS) trackers in its fire tenders. With the installation of GPS trackers, the control room of DFS will not only be able to rush the nearest available vehicle to the spot where the fire incident has taken place but will also be able send a backup from a different route if any fire tender gets stuck in traffic jam, a perennial problem faced by the force on the capital city’s busy roads.
“In first phase, we have selected 100 fire tenders for the installation of the Global Positioning System (GPS), which aims to greatly reduce the response time for the force in case of fire-related incident. Within the next three months, 100 fire tenders will be fitted with GPS trackers,” DFS director AK Sharma said.
At present, Fire Department has 200 fire tenders in total and 1,800 staff. The director said the department was often accused of reaching the spot late, but with the help of GPS they will be able to monitor the movement of fire tenders.
In a recent case of such delay, some fire tenders on Friday had got stuck in traffic jam when they were on their way to Mahipalpur area in South Delhi where a major fire had broken out in the godown of a transport company.