<p>Bengaluru: Karnataka is set to face this summer with only 35% of its fire-fighting vehicles as 443 of them will be scrapped under the government’s vehicle-scrapping policy, according to well-placed sources in the Karnataka State Fire and Emergency Services (KSFES).</p>.<p>The fleet slated for dismantling include fire tenders, water bowsers, Varuna (water mist on jeeps), Agni (water mist on bikes) and portable pump vehicles. According to the policy, all government vehicles older than 15 years must be decommissioned and scrapped to address pollution and road safety concerns.</p>.<p>“We have been inducting new vehicles as needed, but even among these old ones, 80% are in perfectly good condition and fit for service. However, they are being barred due to the policy,” a senior fire department official told <em>DH.</em></p>.<p>Despite these retirements, officials insist that fire accident response will not be compromised, as every fire station has at least one fire tender. However, activists and former fire department officials have described the situation as “high risk”.</p>.<p>This issue was not unforeseen. When the policy was first introduced, former Karnataka State Fire and Emergency Services DGP Kamal Pant wrote multiple letters to the state and Union governments, requesting exemptions or relaxations for fire department vehicles. However, sources indicate that his appeals went unanswered.</p>.Is Bengaluru prepared for fire emergencies?.<p>Following this development, KSFES has floated tenders and issued work orders for new vehicles, but they are expected to be delivered only after summer, in the next six months. Currently, Karnataka has 216 fire stations, each equipped with at least one fire tender. In case of major incidents, KSFES plans to deploy vehicles from multiple stations to a single location.</p>.<p>Environmental activists have raised concerns, warning that summer in Karnataka often leads to forest fires. Wildlife activist Joseph Hoover pointed out that while extreme weather is not a primary cause of such fires, human negligence and deliberate acts remain major triggers.</p>.<p>“The fire department’s current situation is extremely risky and shows a lack of preparedness for summer. Forest areas in Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple (BRT), Mudigere and other places in Chikkamagaluru are particularly vulnerable to such fires,” Hoover<br>warned.</p>.<p>A senior fire department official revealed that Karnataka saw an average of 120 fire incidents daily in February, with most being dry grass fires. “On February 28 alone, we received 85 calls related to grass fires,” he noted.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, meteorologists are predicting a harsh summer. According to IMD scientist C S Patil, temperatures in Bengaluru and surrounding districts are expected to reach 38-39°C, while North Karnataka could see highs of 42-44°C in the coming months.</p>
<p>Bengaluru: Karnataka is set to face this summer with only 35% of its fire-fighting vehicles as 443 of them will be scrapped under the government’s vehicle-scrapping policy, according to well-placed sources in the Karnataka State Fire and Emergency Services (KSFES).</p>.<p>The fleet slated for dismantling include fire tenders, water bowsers, Varuna (water mist on jeeps), Agni (water mist on bikes) and portable pump vehicles. According to the policy, all government vehicles older than 15 years must be decommissioned and scrapped to address pollution and road safety concerns.</p>.<p>“We have been inducting new vehicles as needed, but even among these old ones, 80% are in perfectly good condition and fit for service. However, they are being barred due to the policy,” a senior fire department official told <em>DH.</em></p>.<p>Despite these retirements, officials insist that fire accident response will not be compromised, as every fire station has at least one fire tender. However, activists and former fire department officials have described the situation as “high risk”.</p>.<p>This issue was not unforeseen. When the policy was first introduced, former Karnataka State Fire and Emergency Services DGP Kamal Pant wrote multiple letters to the state and Union governments, requesting exemptions or relaxations for fire department vehicles. However, sources indicate that his appeals went unanswered.</p>.Is Bengaluru prepared for fire emergencies?.<p>Following this development, KSFES has floated tenders and issued work orders for new vehicles, but they are expected to be delivered only after summer, in the next six months. Currently, Karnataka has 216 fire stations, each equipped with at least one fire tender. In case of major incidents, KSFES plans to deploy vehicles from multiple stations to a single location.</p>.<p>Environmental activists have raised concerns, warning that summer in Karnataka often leads to forest fires. Wildlife activist Joseph Hoover pointed out that while extreme weather is not a primary cause of such fires, human negligence and deliberate acts remain major triggers.</p>.<p>“The fire department’s current situation is extremely risky and shows a lack of preparedness for summer. Forest areas in Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple (BRT), Mudigere and other places in Chikkamagaluru are particularly vulnerable to such fires,” Hoover<br>warned.</p>.<p>A senior fire department official revealed that Karnataka saw an average of 120 fire incidents daily in February, with most being dry grass fires. “On February 28 alone, we received 85 calls related to grass fires,” he noted.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, meteorologists are predicting a harsh summer. According to IMD scientist C S Patil, temperatures in Bengaluru and surrounding districts are expected to reach 38-39°C, while North Karnataka could see highs of 42-44°C in the coming months.</p>