Govt allots 14 acre land for training institute similar to UK's fire college

The Delhi government has allotted 14 acres of gram sabha land in north-west Delhi’s Saraswati Vihar to the DFS for a fire training institute, which will be set up on the lines of Moreton Fire Service College in the UK.

The college is an award-winning leader in fire and emergency response training, and one of the world’s largest operational fire and rescue training facilities.

“We hope to have one of the largest and most complete range of fire training facilities in the world. It will enable our officers to train in the most realistic conditions possible in a range of locations,” said DFS director A K Sharma.

“They will replicate conditions that they may encounter in their day-to-day role,” added Sharma. The college also specialises in providing dedicated training for fire and rescue services, emergency responders and a wide spectrum of commercial and public sector clients. Sharma said the department procured 10 small water tenders, five water bousers, two bulk foam tender and six quick reaction vehicles in 2012-13. Building inspections were also conducted throughout the year in the interest of public safety.

“A special campaign was conducted for inspection of schools in Delhi. So far 4,426 schools have been inspected from fire safety point of view. Of these, NOCs have been issued to 2,738 schools and shortcomings notice to 1,688,” Sharma added.

A fire safety survey of hospitals was conducted after a devastating fire in AMRI Hospital in Kolkata in December 2011. All hospitals under the state government, central government, MCD, NDMC and ESIC were inspected, and a detailed report submitted to the government.

“I am glad to inform that due to our continued persuasion, 17 Delhi government hospitals and a central government hospital have been cleared for fire safety. The remaining hospitals are in advance stages of implementing fire safety measures, and hopefully they will also attain the required standard,” Sharma said. To provide fire safety cover in rural area, fire posts in Zaffarpur and Bakhtawarpur will be set up.

These posts will continue to function till the end of the harvesting season, June 30.
The DFS has 55 fire stations, including newly constructed Kalyanvas, made operational on September 26, 2012. To reduce response time, a target of 72 fire stations was planned during the 10th Five Year Plan. The remaining 17 stations are included in 11th Five Year Plan.

The total budget of the DFS in financial year 2012-13 is Rs 3,980 lakh in plan head, Rs 7,327 lakh for non-plan and Rs 500 lakh for capital works under plan. However, for  2013-2014, allocation of Rs 6,557 lakh for plan head, Rs 10,976 lakh for non-plan head and Rs 802 lakh for capital works under plan.