Srinagar: DG F&ES has announced to reward all those Fire Service Department personnel, part of Nawakadal fire rescue operations, for their efforts and timely intervention in containing the spread of flames to other residential houses in a highly congested Nawakadal locality of summer capital Srinagar.

Two residential houses caught fire this morning at a highly congested Nawa Kadal area in Srinagar, which was immediately responded by Fire & Emergency Service (F&ES).”

The personnel, as per the official, were able to contain the fire with the help and cooperation of Police and especially the local youth.

“There were at least 20 to 25 adjoining houses which could have engulfed in the fire, but the timely action by Fire service personnel helped to isolate and contain the fire in the wooded attic portion of the two houses and didn’t allow fire to spread”, the official said.

“Noor Alam Khan, Sub Officer, from Fire Service HQ was amongst the first responders and he coordinated with Joint Director F&ES Bashir Ahmed Shah and the Fire Service personnel were able to contain the fire”, the official said.

Maintaining that another fire incident had occurred earlier at Namchabal, near Fatehkadal and Alamgari Bazar, the official said that Fire Service personnel were rushed immediately to the spot as to ensure that fire was contained in only one house despite that area also being highly congested.

“Taking note of the swift action by Fire Service personnel the Director General F&ES Dr. B. Srinivas has announced cash reward and commendation certificates, in favour of the first responders and has even assured that whenever such swift and appreciable action is taken, the Fire Service personnel will be suitably rewarded”, the official informed.

DG Fire has in the meantime also expressed his gratitude to the local volunteers who assisted the Fire Service personnel in containing the fire.

Srinivas, who is also Commandant General CD, HG and SDRF appealed to youth to voluntarily get associated with Civil Defence and learn fire-fighting and first-aid skills, so that they can assist the Fire Service Teams and can become an integral part of community rescue teams, the official underscored.

Amid the ongoing winter season, the Fire and Emergency Services (F&ES) Department has appealed to people to take adequate precautions, as it has been observed that fire incidents increase during winter months, since people use different heating devices in freezing temperatures.

“People should not resort to overloading the electric power sockets, or use faulty electrical appliances, high wattage electrical room heaters, defective electric blankets etc., as the electric wiring systems in old houses are worn-out and cannot take much heating load and can result in short-circuits and fire-incidents”, the official said.

F&ES Department has in the meantime cautioned that while using gas Bukharies, care should be taken that Gas cylinder is removed from the room, before sleeping, otherwise gas leakage can occur resulting in fires and if the gas heater is kept burning it can cause depletion of oxygen, resulting in health hazards.

It was further cautioned that while cooking food, the stove should never be kept unattended. The LPG Cylinder should always be lower than the Gas Stove. The LPG Cylinder regulator should always be shut, before going to sleep, the official said.

It was further suggested that the majority of people use Kangri but need to handle it carefully, so that it does not topple over. While using Candles, care should be taken that it is not kept on any wooden or inflammable surface.

F&ES Department official further said that whenever fire incidents occur, people should immediately call the Fire Service Control Room on Toll free number 101 which functions 24×7.

Reader correspondent